Welcome to the Mahabharata Podcast!


This podcast is both a re-telling and a conversation about the mighty epic the Mahabharata.

This series was originally published in a blog format, with each episode released about once a week.  This developed into a total of 100 episodes, covering every event in the epic from start to finish.  Any sections that I left out are mentioned, so this should effectively give you an idea what is in the entire, unabridged Mahabharata.

The Mahabharata is also the earliest extant source on the life and times of Krishna, Avatar of Vishnu and the object of worship for millions across the globe.  Remarkably, the story of Krishna's birth and childhood are not included in the epic.  In order to make up for that lack, I also turned to the Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana), 10th Canto, which contains the most details about Krishna's life.

The audio is available as downloads from this blog, and it can also be found here on iTunes.

Each episode was published chronologically, the first episode is at the bottom of the list of posts.  You can start at Episode 1.

If you are interested in the life of Krishna, you can jump to that series starting at Episode 11.

The famous Dice Game starts at Episode 21.

I also cover the Bhagavad Gita, starting at Episode 59.

If you are interested on my ideas on the epic, I have two commentary episodes, once in the midst of the Great War, Episode 76, and then I give my take on the epic as a whole in the finale, Episode 100.


31 comments:

  1. Listened to your entire Mahabarata podcast. Thanks to such a wonderful endeavor, we laymen have far greater access to our texts.

    I am wondering. Are you planning for a new podcast in the new future?

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  2. I only recently came across your podcast and am absolutely loving it so far. I just finished the second dice game and always look forward to my walks home from work, during which I can usually take in two episodes. Thank you for putting this out there!

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  3. Wow! What a wonderful job you have done! Congratulations and a big THANK YOU. Started the first podcast with not so high expectations. But from the second podcast, I am now glued and stuck: can't listen to my other usual podcasts until I finish this whole series. I liked your comments which make it more interesting. Good job! May I suggest next assignment: Valmiki Ramayana.

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  4. Wow! Kudos for an amazing job! Started the first episode with not so high expectations. But from second episode I am glued and stuck: can't listen to other usual podcasts until I finish this whole series; all due to the nature of subject and the way you presented it, interspersed with your own commentary.

    May I suggest your next assignment: Ramayana (by Valmiki).

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  5. Thank you very much for this exceptional rendition of Mahabharat. In spite of been born and bred a Hindu, I had never heard the whole story only the fables and convenient quotes. Your voice modulation was very soothing and the passion to understand the subject is very impressive. I have recommended it to my friends and am wondering where to send the cow with the gilded horns?

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  6. Thanks alot for the amazing podcast keep up thw great wrk.....btw my app on S2 doesnt hav chap 4&5......

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  7. Brilliant rendition ! You have made it really interesting for the laymen and you make it sound as if it's happening in this day and age with the way you narrate and choose the language all the while not losing the seriousness or the import of the epic. I am listening to it the second time !

    I know easier said than done but looking forward to the Ramayana too !

    Bravo

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  8. Thank you very much. I have been wanting to know about Mahabharata for quite some time but never really could. I thought, probably an audio podcast would help me complete my wish during my commutation to office and that is when I found your podcast. You seem to have natural talent for story telling...I really enjoyed the story and the way you told it adding your opinions and trying to reason it with logic. Any way, I can't thank enough but Thank you so much for spending your precious time for the benefit of others... Thank you.

    Shiv

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  9. Hi, can you please point me to a good audio podcast about other hindu literature like vedas and puranas?

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  10. Thank you!!! Never thought I could learn the Mahabharata so fast.... Great work.... Blessed will u be...

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  11. I would like to bow to you. Thank you so much for making this podcast on Mahabharata. To be honest I have had watched episodes of it on tv but they didn't grab my mind and soul but your narration did.

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  12. Thank you for the podcast

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  13. You are awesome, terrific job with the details, I loved your way of connecting dots from older stories.

    Thank you so much!!!!

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  14. Man you did a terrific job!!!
    Awesome detailing, loved the style of connecting dots with older stories.
    Thank you so much!!!

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  15. The narration of the story was excellent. I am really amazed with your effort and dedication. Thanks for putting out this epic.

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  16. Kudos and Salute for your works mate.
    You are the best ive experienced so far.
    I felt lively and had visions of scenes and images while your narration.
    Hats off to your masterpiece.

    I would also recommend you not to stop this good work.
    I would wish to hear other hindu puranas narrated by you if possible.

    Thanks
    Ragav
    -9941844768

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  17. Great research and even greater narration. History is best learned through lucid storytelling. I have read the Mahabharata in it's entirety about 2 decades ago but the experience was dull, but the podcast makes it so much interesting.
    Thanks!!

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  18. I just finished all 100 episodes! Although I had heard most of the stories piecemeal throughout my life, I never had the chance the read the whole story end to end. This podcast gave me that chance and I am grateful for it. To a large extent it took the covers off for me on what else is there in the book other than what I already knew. I liked how you stayed true to the original telling of the story and brought in the occasional editorial commentary. Well done!!

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  19. Thank you so much! This will be forever the best Mahabharata! This will change the way many people think

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  20. I am 10 episodes in and I love it. Thank you so much for making this podcast. My Dad would always tell me about the Mahabharata as bed time stories (turns out he left out a lot of stuff). Since then I have been fascinated with the depth and ethics/morals involved in this epic. I randomly decided to search for "mahabharata" on itunes today and landed upon your goldmine. Again, Thank you so much!

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  21. I just finished the podcast. I really enjoyed your narration and thoughts that helped understand and reason the story. It gave me a new perspective. Thanks for doing this.

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  22. I have just finished the podcast No#99. Big Thanks to you. your pronunciation of Sanskrit words is really great. To put the epic in a pod cast I think you might have done a great research about Hindu culture. My understanding is that, unless you know in and out about the religion and belief, it is not possible to put it as podcast in a correct tone.
    Thank you very much sir, for retelling epic told by Vaisampayana to Janumajay. Both You and listeners we will attain haven. Thank you.
    Please direct me to any other podcasts you have done so far.

    Thank you again.

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  23. I finished last week, I'm ready now for round two. Just started re-downloading the first 20 episodes. Thank you so, so much from the bottom of my heart.

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  24. Mate you are a legend!! I started listening to it 2 weeks back and into 80th episode now. I am taking longer commute to work and back so that i can fill in an another episode. Great job nah epic job mate!!!!

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  25. Listened to the entire thing on my commute back and forth from work. It was truly a pleasure. I can't thank you enough and I will be recommending it to my friends. I grew up with the stories of the mahabharatha but it was so wonderful to hear it all in order with your explanations and manner of story telling. I even appreciated the occasional colorful language!

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  26. The podcast is wonderful.Having grown up reading the Mahabharata, i was looking for a refresher of sorts and came across this. Its part of my commute and am halfway through and find it absolutely interesting. I like the more 'modern' retelling of the story in a language I am more comfortable with (problem with my generation!!!) and irreverence just makes it more real. Thanks for this.

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  27. Really awesome podcast - thanks for doing this!

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  28. Brilliant podcast. Thoroughly enjoyed listening. Deserves a lot of credit for the narration, super job!

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  29. Lawrence, thank you ! I totally enjoyed your podcast. This was truly helpful. You interpretations are also appreciated.

    regards
    Shantanu

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  30. Thank you Lawrence. Its a selfless service you have done for the world.
    Also you have brought me closer to my own culture and heritage.

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