The Mahabharata: Volume 7

The Mahabharata is far more than a story of war between two rival branches of the Kuru dynasty. At its heart are difficult conflicts of dharma, in which characters repeatedly face choices without simple or absolute answers. Volume 7 carries the narrative through the decisive phase of the great war, with its victories, losses, vows, vengeance and consequences.

Bibek Debroy (1955–2024) was a distinguished Indian economist, scholar and translator. He was educated at the Ramakrishna Mission School, Presidency College, the Delhi School of Economics and the University of Cambridge. He translated the complete Mahabharata into English in ten volumes and was also known for his translations of the Ramayana and several Puranas.

Bibek Debroy (1955–2024) was a distinguished Indian economist, scholar and translator. He was educated at the Ramakrishna Mission School, Presidency College, the Delhi School of Economics and the University of Cambridge. He translated the complete Mahabharata into English in ten volumes and was also known for his translations of the Ramayana and several Puranas.

In Volume 7, the Mahabharata moves through the climactic stages of the Kurukshetra conflict. The long struggle between the Pandavas and Kauravas reaches its decisive conclusion, bringing fulfilment of vows, devastating personal losses and profound moral consequences. Through the epic's battles and aftermath, the book examines revenge, duty, honour, grief and the complicated nature of dharma. Debroy's lucid translation makes the ancient Sanskrit epic accessible to contemporary English readers.