Sampoorna Mahabharatam • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 1

In the name of iham (this world) Mahabharata explains how dharma should be adhered to. In the name of param (other world) it explains how Supreme should be worshipped. Mahabharata is a wish-fulfilling tree that fulfils all cherished desires. It blesses all the 4 goals of life. Every person has to abide by 2 roles- individual and social. Mahabharata teaches that both should be completed righteously. When needed for social good, individual wants should be sacrificed. Mahabharata teaches that this alone is dharma. Giving importance only to individual needs is unrighteous (adharmic) it says. Mahabharata teaches the person to discern between good and bad. It teaches the path of righteous conduct (dharma). It teaches that every human being should seek ultimate blissful state. Vyasa wanted the essence of Vedas to reach the masses. So, with utmost compassion he made available this Bharata, which is the fifth Veda. When any differences arise between concepts contained in Vedas, Smrtis and Puranas, then Mahabharata should be considered as proof - said Tikkana Mahakavi. Such is its greatness!Shastras have said that every human being is born with three debts – debts towards the Devatas, towards ancestors and towards rishis. Maharishi Vyasa has said that humans also have another debt called manushya runam (indebtedness due to getting a human birth) and that along with the other three debts, we must also clear this debt. This debt can be cleared only when compassion is developed for all forms of life. Understanding Mahabharata helps us clear all the 4 types of debts.For this reason, while taking members from his own family such as Bheeshma, Dharmaraja, Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana as examples, Maharishi Vyasa authored Mahabharata. While explaining the good and bad qualities of his own family members, he taught how people should and should not behave. A human being operates from ‘heart’ and from ‘head’ categories. Friendship, compassion, love, love for motherland, devotion etc. belong to the heart-category. Thinking faculty, the desire to lead moral life, dedication to duty, dexterity in work, ability to discern right from wrong and not getting mentally depressed due to troubles- all these belong to the head. Both the categories should be diligently followed. Only then, the person become totally complete. Both these aspects are contained in Bharata and hence, those who understand it become complete in all aspects. In other words, to become a complete person, it is imperative to understand the entire Mahabharata. Mahabharata explains extra-ordinary morals and disciplines, knowing which, help the person become complete in all aspects. ‘Only that which is found in Mahabharata can be found elsewhere. But that which is not there in Mahabharata, cannot be found in any other text!’- this was the pledge made by Maharishi Vyasa. Mahabharata is a very detailed treatise. In the form of small stories, Maharishi Vyasa has clearly highlighted righteous conduct. Understanding Mahabharata removes narrow mindedness and fills us with broadmindedness. It casts a positive influence on the behaviour and conduct of the person. It teaches that ruling does not mean supressing others; but offering protection to them. When Mahabharata is learnt in prime age, the person learns to strive for his worldly as well as his spiritual wellbeing. It teaches that bad intellect ruins us and good intellect benefits. By understanding Mahabharata, we realize that it is a story appliable to every human life. It teaches us how a person should and should not behave; how one should protect family; how to earn; how to earn victory through righteous techniques; how a ruler should rule. It explains about politics, administration, disciplines and morals. The benefits of understanding Mahabharata are being mentioned upfront! Whatever one seeks is available in Mahabharata. How to talk and behave; how to be courageous during troubles; how to be humble during prosperity; how to be tolerant when insulted; how the learned should behave towards the degraded; how women and men should behave; and also how to obtain liberation. In a proper, structured, systematic way the method to obtain the 4 goals of life (purusharthas) is learnt by studying Mahabharata. Padma Purana says: If the three- Mahabharata, Sun and Moon are destroyed, the world will be submerged in utter darkness. Just as Sun dispels darkness, Mahabharata dispels the ignorance from within the person’s mind and fills him with illumination. By understanding Mahabharata, discontent, intolerance, jealousy and hatred are driven out from mind. Mind is inclined towards righteous earnings; life becomes happy and enjoyable. ‘If we protect dharma, it will protect us. Victory exists where dharma exists’- this is the message given by Mahabharata to the world and hence it is addressed as ‘Jaya’. Let us therefore begin Mahabharata which is addressed as Jaya.