Dharma Kshetra: Kurukshetra

Truth always Triumphs is what we learn from our epics but the path, is seldom easy. I write today about the Indian Epic I like the most, Mahabharat. It is not my religious inclination that makes me write this today but my sheer fascination for the story, its characters and the way it has been written.
I am well aware that this post will only have a handful of readers and an even lesser number of comments, but that doesn't deter me from continuing. Also, Summing the entire Epic Poem wouldn't be possibly for me, still an amateur writer.
The story follows the events which lead to the Kurukshetra War between the two sparring factions of the Kuru Brothers. The Hastinapur kingdom had to be divided into two, to accommodate the two brothers.

Pandavas, the rightful successors of Hastinapur, who ruled Indraprastha, were unlawfully beaten in a game of die and sent to the forests for 12 years in exile and one year of exile in disguise. This cheating wasn't new to them as previous attempts to kill and dethrone them had been made. Duryodhana, to insult his rivals had stooped down to insulting Draupadi and publically de robing her. In all his evil actions he was accompanied by Shakuni, Dushasana and Karna.
The enmity existed  since Childhood but the major conspiracies began with the burning of house in Varnavrata, cheating during the game of die, indecency with Draupadi,etc. Duryodhana's lust for Power had reached d apex point where he was ready to lay down lives of innocents so that he does not have to give up half the kingdom to the rightful owners(He even refused to give the Pandavas 5 villages in exchange of their demand for Indraprastha).

Bhishma fell on the 10th day of the war when his body was shot with multiple arrows by Arjun, but he only died after the war had ended as he was bound by a vow, given by him to his father. He lay on a bed of arrows for 8 days in the battlefield. The war eventually ended in The Pandavas victory and Yudhishtira was crowned the King. 

My Favorite Characters in the Story are Bhishma, Vidur and Krishna. Their views and their undying attempts to stop the war must be commended. Their logics to defend what they said, and the very trait that they spoke only the amount required moved me. Bhishma, who regarded Hastinapur as his mother, tried to Pacify things and prevent the destruction which would eventually destroy his beloved Kingdom. He had been under the tutelage of Parashuram who was a renowned warrior, and Bhishma was considered to be a Flawless Combatant.
I would also like to mention my appreciation towards Karna for the chivalrous person he was. He always felt indebted towards Duryodhana for considering him a friend and crowning him the Kings of Anga, the reason why he never left Duryodhana's side. He was a Charitable man and always eager for a war. He had to bear a lot of insult for being brought up by a Charioteer. His love and respect for his friend was such that even after finding out that he was Kunti's eldest son that he could eventually be the King of Hastinapur, he refused to side with the Pandavas, the reason being that he was indebted by Duryodhana. 

Dhritrashtra's love for his son had blinded him and thwarted all efforts made by all the well wishers to stop what was eventually destined to happen. No threating or warning could made by sages, his ministers, wife, charioteer could move him and stop his son.
The war itself couldn't be fought without malpractices. The rules were flouted by both the sides. The Pandavas always shielded their acts by citing previous instances wherein the Kaurvas had not kept there word. An example would be where Abhimanyu, Arjun's son was murdered by multiple people at once where as it had been decided that only a duel would take place between two warriors.

The reason why I score Mahabharata over Ramayana would be because of it's relevance in today's time. At a time when brother's are running after each other's life, in a world dominated by materialism, the story seems so apt even today. The cruelties being committed on Women shows that there respect and image in society has stagnated ever since. It also shows the differences which exist in every family big or small, and the presence of protagonists and antagonists.  There is something to learn in every small incident and word spoken by someone.
Another thing that influences me is that every character unlike Ramayana has a shade of grey. Like reality, there are goods and bads in everyone's personality. In Ramayana one either has a white shade, when every trait of his is good or he's demonized for his negatives.

The Epic also gave the Hindus their Sacred Book, the Bhagvat Gita.
I would advise the avid readers to read the book and the Non avid readers to atleast watch it on TV. It would actually be better if everyone watches it on the TV, because the complexity in the story and the number of characters can surely confuse anyone.