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MESSAGE OF THE MAHABHARATA 467
 
Moksha Dharma, 173,4) and hence it is
that both at the beginning and
 
glorified
 
the end, the Epic has
Kala
(1. 1. 272-275 and XVI. 9. 36-40). This
Vairagya, together with Dharma, forms the
means of our realising God and attaining
Liberation. Anandavardhana observes:
 
The
 
one
 
once
 
The
 
When Vyasa says that in his Epic, he has
sung of the Lord and when he describes
his epic as the Story of Narayana "
Narayana Katha his message is:
history of the Pandavas is only the argu-
ment; the case is the greatness of the
Lord. Revel in love for Him and wallow
not in the worthless things of the world."
(Dhvanyaloka,
pp. 238-9). When
understands this, the huge Epic at
attains
a unity of character.
Pandavas represent Dharma, which alone
is the path to God; Duryodhana, his brothers
and his allies represent Adharma.
The
story of the Epic is the conflict of the
two. The Lord Himself, Bhishma, Vidura
and Drona try their best to save Duryodhana
by pointing out to him the superiority of
Dharma; but doomed by Fate, the unthinking
prince ruins himself and his allies. This
Dharma is the message of the Great Epic and
it can hardly be missed.
As the Epic opens,
it says: (I.1.76)
Vyasa sang of the
greatness of
Vasudeva and the
truthfulness of the Pandavas." And as the
Epic closes, it says: (XVIII. 5. 76-7)
With uplifted hands, I shout; alas! none
 
Lord
 
42
 
66
 
66