Ranks 10th on The Fictional
100
The following books will introduce you to Arjuna, who said
these words in the Bhagavad Gita (Edgerton trans.).
To order a book, or for more information, follow the title links to Amazon.com,
or return home to browse other
characters.
- The
Bhagavad Gita (Franklin Edgerton, Trans.). Cambridge,
MA: Harvard University Press, 1972.
- This magnificent dialogue between the unsurpassed
archer Arjuna and his charioteer, Lord Krishna,
is the pivotal sixth book of the Mahabharata
and the best loved classic of Indian
spirituality. Prompted by Arjuna's serious moral
doubts about the coming battle, aimed at
regaining his kingdom from his kinsmen, Krishna
delivers his teaching on the meaning of action in
this life and the paths to ultimate salvation.
Edgerton's verse translation is clear, moving,
and highly praised for its authenticity.
- The Mahabharata (J. A. B. van Buitenen, Ed. and
Trans.). University of Chicago Press, 1973-1978. (Van
Buitenen's introductions and notes to each part of the
epic are invaluable tools for deeper understanding.)
- Volume 1: I. The Book of the Beginning.--Tells
the origins of the Bharata clan and the early
life of the five Pandava brothers (Arjuna is the
middle one) up until the fateful dice game in
which they lose their freedom and their kingdom.
(To order Vol. 1, go to Shakuntala
for the link to its page in Amazon.com.)
- Volume
2: II. The Book of the Assembly Hall. III. The
Book of the Forest.--Arjuna and his brothers
are invited to a dice game in the assembly hall
of Hastinapura by their treacherous cousin,
Duryodhana. The game is rigged and they lose
everything, and must wander in forest exile for
12 years.
- Volume
3: IV. The Book of Virata. V. The Book of the
Effort.--Arjuna and his brothers must spend
their thirteenth year of exile in anonymity,
before they can return to reclaim their kingdom.
Arjuna, with divine help, poses as a eunuch
dancing master in the court of Virata. Upon their
return, Krishna tries to avert war with
diplomacy, but his offers are rejected, and the
opposing armies face each other on the field of
Kurukshetra (this is the point at which the Bhagavad
Gita begins).
- The
Bhagavadgita in the Mahabharata: A Bilingual
edition.--van Buitenen's prose translation,
facing the transliterated Sanskrit original,
upholds the same standards of excellence in
scholarship displayed in the other three volumes.
- Buck, William. Mahabharata.
New American Library, 1979.
- Van Buitenen died after translating only a little
more than 5 of the total 18 books of this
monumental epic. Buck's retelling conveys the
full narrative, although no brief novelization
can convey the power of the original poetry,
myth, and religious teaching contained in this
encyclopedic treasure of ancient Indian
literature.
- Narayan, R. K. The
Mahabharata. South Asia Books, 1989.
- Another admirable retelling by an accomplished
modern novelist.
- Hiltebeitel, Alf. The
Ritual of Battle: Krishna in the Mahabharata. Albany:
State University of New York Press, 1990.
- Although this book by the renowned scholar
Hiltebeitel focuses on Krishna's roles in the Mahabharata,
it necessarily covers Arjuna's participation and
his relationship to Krishna.
- Katz, Ruth C. Arjuna
in the Mahabharata. Columbia: University of South
Carolina Press, 1989.
- This is the best commentary on Arjuna as warrior,
lover, and mystic.
- Chaitanya, Krishna. Mahabharata:
A Literary Study. Asia Book Corporation of America,
1985.
- Excellent literary analysis of the epic from
beginning to end. Chaitanya writes
enthusiastically, with strong opinions and
probing questions, for example, on the meaning of
the Gita. (1993
edition also available.)
- Brook, Peter. Mahabharata
Film Version (VHS). Paraclete, 1995.
- Shown a few years ago on public television, this
is the film version of Peter Brook's successful
stage adaptation, featuring an international
cast.
- Carrière, Jean-Claude and Brook, Peter (Trans.). The
Mahabharata: A Play. HarperCollins, 1989.
- Basis for the stage and film versions of the
Indian epic.
- Reza, Rahi Masoom. The
Mahabharata TV Film Script (10 vols.; S. Bhatnagar
and S. Magan, Trans.). Calcutta: Writers Workshop, 1991.
- This is the English translation of the full
script for the B. R. TV serialization, which kept
all of India riveted every Sunday morning for two
years. In rural areas, people would walk or
bicycle many miles to gather around the only TV
in a village so that they would not miss
Krishna's inspiring lessons to Arjuna or the
gripping battle scenes. The complete series in
Hindi with English subtitles was shown in the
U.S. on the International Channel (12401 W.
Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90064), which also
offered the set on video.
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