Rating: 
Summary: Incredible
Review: I have always enjoyed mythology. But now, every world culture's mythology is boring to me after my encounter with India's Mahabharata and Ramayana. As I believe someone else has said, its kind of like a mixture of Star Wars and Lord of The Rings. there are "celestial weapons" (some powerful enough to destroy the universe), beautiful heroines, powerful heroes, and to top it off, a coherent mystical philosophy of the universe. I can't recommend this book enough. If you want to try something shorter, order Krishna Dharma's translation of the Ramayana.
Rating:
Summary: Great Rendition
Review: I have read 3 different versions of the Mahabharata. I think this one is an excellent rendition of the story. It forgoes a few details (yes, the original account would mean at least 3 more books like this one), and uses modern english prose to tell this many millenium old epic. It is said that in the Mahabharata one can find every kind of man and every kind of situation, and it is not far from the truth. What is more amazing is that in such an atemporal epic, not only you can find thoughts and philosophy that are very relevant to our days, but also a sincere message of tolerance, love and duty. That packed with a load of adventures... Anything better? Highly recommended.
PS: If you liked The Lord of the Rings, try this.
Rating:
Summary: Highly readable and accurate novelisation of original
Review: I have read several versions of the Mahabharata, but this is by far the best. Dharma draws you straight into the action and keeps your attention riveted. His language is a little elevated, but that is quite in keeping with the original text, to which he has closely adhered. Students of the original will find that Dharma has very much retained its poetic flavour and splendour. It is not like modern novels, in that it does not employ the techniques of suspense and the like, but your mind is held by the wondrous descriptions of a long past age of chivalry and virtue, and by the descriptions of truly heroic characters. And there are some highly beautiful exchanges of dialogue which made my heart soar.Fans of the Greek classics will love this, as will anyone who reads heroic literature of any kind. For those already familiar with the Mahabharata, you will not be disappointed with this version. It is unashamedly devotional, but then so is the original text. Anyone wanting to start their exploration of India's most read and popular epic would be well advised to begin with this book. It will launch you on an inner journey that takes you to regions of unimaginable transcendental happiness. As the Mahabaharata itself says, 'Whatever is to be found elsewhere will also be found here, and anything not contained here will not be found anywhere else.' Enjoy! Review written by ZahraAftab@hotmail.com
Rating: 
Summary: Great Epic, good book in simplified language
Review: I remember the first time I read the story of Mahabharata. I was 11 yrs old, and was never able to forget it, such is the story of this great epic. Then came the story of Mahabharata on TV from B.R. Chopra to refresh the memmory and further creating an everlasting impression.
It was long time now for me and I thought I forgot this epic story so got hold of 16 DVD set of Mahabharata by B.R.Chopra, and I was very intrigued by some of the facts or lets say short stories rather. I thought it is high time to verify what does original mahabharata says. I went on and found the actual 1,00,000 lines poem but alas it was in Sanskrit, I can read sanskrit but its too long to follow up. I searched for a good book which shud be written directly from the this sanskrit poem and my search ended with this bbok.
The book is written nicely, there are lot of stories that were presented pretty well here. I read it to gain more knowledge on the subject and was very satisfying to know more abt stories like Killing of Anuj Keechaks, Arjuna killed by his son, Story of Ullupi, 10 names of Arjun, Narayana Astra etc etc
Giving 4 stars because I also wanted to know more abt the Third Dice Game which is missed out everywhere. I have read it in some specific research book but dont know why it is always missed out.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, bad writing
Review: I started reading William Buck's Mahabharata, and it was so engrossing that I had to read this one as well. Buck's is simply too short and this version promised to include more of the story and also seemed to be more faithful to the language of the original. Unfortuantely, it has none of Buck's charm. The language is unrelentingly flat and dull. The translator has a tin ear and the writing is simply bad. College students have more variety in their diction and sentence structure than Mr. Kenneth Anderson, aka Krishna Dharma. I can only hope that I find another version that is accurate, and long enough, but at the same time doesn't put you to sleep. Reading this can be simply exhausting.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful book
Review: I would just like to say that I am very happy to have this book, 'Mahabharata'. And it's true that this is 'the greatest spiritual epic of all time'. And of course, the most important part is 'Bhagavad Gita' where Sri Krishna explanes who we are and what is our purpose in this life. And if everybody would read and obey these books, this world would be a much better place to live in. Read this jewel and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A unique achievement
Review: It was very refreshing to find such a readable and exciting rendition of this classic. For the most part, translations of India's spiritual writings are quite heavy going, usually stilted and hard to follow. Not so this one. Written in highly accessible modern prose, it is a fluid narrative that grips the reader like a modern day bestselling novel. This is no mean feat. Having read the original text I know it is a complex tale with many interwoven strands that span vast periods of time. Every character has his or her own fascinating story that ties in with overall theme of the epic, and Dharma has managed to incorporate them all into a tight narrative that never loses the reader. He plainly knows the story inside out, and has cleverly structured his book so that it all fits together into a coherent whole. When I read the original I found myself constantly turning backwards and forwards in order to follow the story, and I was grateful to have it clearly spelled out by Dharma in his book. This treatment of the epic is perhaps unique. Other writers have tried something similar, I know, but in my view none have been quite as successful. And from what I have seen, none of them have shown so lucidly the spiritual import of the Mahabharata. I would say that this is Dharma's greatest contribution to the epic. He brings out the spiritual meaning intended by the original author Vyasa. Being himself a spiritual disciple in the line that comes from Vyasa, he is well positioned to understand its sublime and uplifting message. I found the passages of spiritual instruction, such as the text of the Bhagavad Gita (which forms one chapter of the Mahabharata) particularly enjoyable and very moving. It is a big book, but I read it in a few days, taking every opportunity to immerse myself in the ancient world it so nicely depicts. As a stirring tale of heroes, warriors, gods, saints, mystics and beautiful damsels, it is without rival, in my view. And as a guide to universal spiritual practises it is a book to be treasured and studied again and again. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: The best modern rendition yet
Review: Krishna Dharma has put great effort into re-introducing Ved Vyasa's immortal epic to the world. He includes an in depth description of every character, and the scenes he describes are so vivid, that the reader will actually feel that she is on the battlefield, observing all such events. I actually should grab a copy for my own personal library! Far longer than the Illiad, more complex than the Odyessey, this masterpiece supplies people of all races and ages with ample adages of living a fruitful life!
Rating:
Summary: The best modern rendition yet
Review: Krishna Dharma has put great effort into re-introducing Ved Vyasa's immortal epic to the world. He includes an in depth description of every character, and the scenes he describes are so vivid, that the reader will actually feel that she is on the battlefield, observing all such events. I actually should grab a copy for my own personal library! Far longer than the Illiad, more complex than the Odyessey, this masterpiece supplies people of all races and ages with ample adages of living a fruitful life!
Rating:
Summary: Supreme knowledge unfolded divinely
Review: Krishna Dharma's beautiful rendering of this classic work is done with a true sensitivity to the salient spiritual highlights illucidated in this great tale. Dharma both explains the spiritual signifigance of a scene and paints it into the story in an understandable way. A very enjoyable read and hands down the best of the three trasnlations I have come accross of Mahabharata.
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