The Illustrated Mahabharata: The Definitive Guide to India's Greatest Epic Hardcover – 1 Jan. 2017

I'm one of those "I never write reviews" people, but this guide to one of India's great epics is the most beautiful book I own, so I felt I had to share my thoughts. It's huge, beautifully illustrated and really well laid out such that it's easy to digest and a joy to read. It was an impulse buy that I am more than happy I made. If you're interested in Eastern philosophy, mythology or just incredible works of art, you will not be disappointed.

I am so pleased that_ coming to this Epic Poem for the first time_ I made the 'bold step' to pay a little extra and purchase this exquisite version of Mahabharata _ Whether novice or adept I think it would be impossible to go through such a beautifully created book and not be touched in some way by the content _ To my mind this volume does the original poem much honour and it also contains an informative reference and index section _

Great Illustrations & Referencesgives you the best engaging read.

I would ignore the negative review, they obvious don’t know Mahabharata or have come across a different version. Niyoga happened, get over it. Neither is it discussed in a seedy or disrespectful way like the reviewer made it out to be. As a Hindu I didn’t find it offensive or a negative representation, because I know these things are part of the story. That negative review almost put me off buying it. I’m glad I saw through the hatred and ignorance the reviewer had for Hindu/ Santana dharma culture. If things are represented well, like in this book then they are not offensive to us.If people are complaining about repetition, then it bound to happen cause they are discussing characters who maybe be involved in the same situations. So it important to fill these gaps.Overall I’m happy with this book.

Excellent addition to my coffee table book collection. Packaging needed to be better as edges got litlle bruised.

DK have done an excellent job with this book. The book covers the main events in this epic and is interspersed with wonderful paintings and pics of artefacts. I would recommend it to anyone who is remotely interested in the Mahabharata, as it gives a very good overall view on this great poem and then can dip into Ramesh Menon's 'THE MAHABHARATA: A Modern Rendering' which is one of the most mesmerising book I have read.

Definitely DK published what is absolutely the best graphic description of the indian Epic: whatever you want to know about the places, the characters and whatever else on the Mahabharata, is found here. A great and trustable source of information for everyone, both scholars or any person interested in the what is considered one of the largest literary works ever written- and its great -and hidden- message. Highly recommended asking the DK guys that publish the other great Epic, the Ramayana, as soon as possible.

An astonishing and beautifully produced tome. Fit for any coffee table but more hopefully a window into the wondrous world of Hindu thought, myth and epic adventure for a new generation. I'm waiting for the brave scholar who connects the archaeology of the Indus Valley Civilisation - Harappa and Mohenjo Daro with the geography of the Mahabharata.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I admit, it took me a while to get into the style, the way the story is broken into simple pieces, and the repetition from page to page.But by the end, I really appreciated this lesson-like approach. I had no prior knowledge of any of this material, so the simple explanatory style and the repetition really helped me. A more straight-forward narrative would have made it much harder to understand and retain the very complex relationships, personal histories and events, especially given the vast number of characters.I can see how someone could be disappointed with that approach, if they’re already familiar with the Mahabharata and wished for a deeper treatment, but surely there are other books for that.This one is a beautiful intro for someone who needs a starting point; it made me want to learn more.

I am familiar with a few versions of Mahabharata, so the content was not my goal. What I was looking for is a collection of illustrations that are relative to the epos. I would say that I am delighted with this fantastic book except for one part - Bhagavad Gita. I think these pages could be designed better with less free space on a page, more verses and some illustrations. Otherwise, it is a fantastic book and an excellent pair for Ramayana from the same publisher. And it is a good book to spend an evening with, flipping pages and diving into the magic of this great epos.

Fidelidade ao original, ilustrações lindas e encadernação primorosa. Parabéns!!

It is a really beautiful picture book also very informative.. good quality

Si lees el mahabharata en una versión resumida, que son seguro un par de volúmenes, o en su edición completa, entre 10 y 12 tomos, es terriblemente útil una guía de lectura. Esta está muy bien organizada e ilustrada en sus más de 500 páginas. Es más completa que la de Penguin “A companion to the mahabharata” que es de bolsillo.