Vidura's Mahabharata: Beginnings (Book 1)

The text is a creative and concise translation of Vyasa's Mahabharata (Critical Edition). The author narrates the epic story through the perspective of Vidura (Vyasa's son). The main narrative, presented in the third person, is interspersed with Vidura's first-person commentary on the various characters and events, adding a distinctive touch to this retelling of the timeless tale of the Mahabharata.

The lucid prose effortlessly guides readers through this epic journey, while Vidura's reflections encourage pauses to ponder moral dilemmas that remain as relevant and thought-provoking today as they were in ancient India.

Book 1, titled Beginnings, covers the Adi Parva and Sabha Parva of Vyasa's Mahabharata. Book 2, Preparations for War, spans the Vana, Virata, and Udyoga Parvas. Book 3, War at Kurukshetra, encompasses the Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Shalya Parvas. Finally, Book 4, Aftermath of War, concludes the epic with the remaining Parvas.

About the Author:

Devdas Menon is a writer, spiritual explorer, and teacher. He retired (in 2023) as Professor and PC Varghese Institute Chair at IIT Madras, where he was engaged in teaching, research and consultancy in structural engineering. He is the author of well-known textbooks titled 'Structural Analysis', 'Advanced Structural Analysis' and 'Reinforced Concrete Design'.

The author adopts a holistic approach to education, emphasising inner development and transformation. He was initiated into Advaita Vedanta in his youth by Swami Krishnananda (of Rishikesh) and other teachers. He has authored books titled 'Stop Sleepwalking Through Life!' and 'Spirituality at Work' (on the Bhagavad Gita), which are texts used in his popular courses on 'Self-Awareness' and 'Integral Karmayoga' at IIT Madras.

Prior to this four-volume series titled 'Vidura's Mahabharata', Devdas Menon had authored an Awakening Trilogy-comprising 'The Awakening of Nachiketa', 'The Awakening of Shvetaketu', and 'The Awakening of Shaunaka'-inspired by the Katha, Chandogya, and Mundaka Upanishads, respectively.

(For more author details, refer to www.devdasmenon.com and https://amazon.com/author/dmenon)