mahabharata

Thân thiện

The teacher reads a passage from the Mahabharata to the class.

Definition

Proper noun 1. A Major Hindu Epic: The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana. It is a monumental narrative that deals with the struggle between two groups of cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas, for the throne of Hastinapura. It is revered not only as a literary work but also as a philosophical and religious text containing the Bhagavad Gita.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Mahabharata is considered the longest epic poem in the world.
  • Many classical Indian dance dramas are based on stories from the Mahabharata.
  • The philosophical discourse in the Mahabharata, particularly the Bhagavad Gita, is central to Hindu thought.

Advanced Usage

• "The Mahabharata war": Refers specifically to the great Kurukshetra War described in the epic, which serves as the climactic event.
  • The teachings of Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield are a pivotal moment in the Mahabharata war.
• As a cultural reference: Used metaphorically to describe a complex, large-scale conflict or a saga involving many characters and intricate plots.
  • The corporate takeover battle turned into a modern-day Mahabharata.

Variants and Related Words

• Mahabharat: A common alternate transliteration of the Sanskrit title.
• Bharata: A name for India, and also a key ancestor within the epic's narrative, from whom the title is derived ("Maha" meaning great, "Bharata" referring to the descendants of King Bharata).

Synonyms

• Epic: A long narrative poem recounting heroic deeds.
• Saga: A long story of heroic achievement, especially a medieval Icelandic or Norse one; used figuratively for the Mahabharata.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "A modern Mahabharata": A phrase used to describe any prolonged and multifaceted conflict involving family, duty, and morality.
  • The legal dispute over the family inheritance became a modern Mahabharata, tearing the siblings apart.

Học thuật

Noun

1. (Hinduism) a sacred epic Sanskrit poem of India dealing in many episodes with the struggle between two rival families

Từ đồng nghĩa

• Mahabharata
• Mahabharatam
• Mahabharatum