It all began in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when India aired its first-ever televised adaptation of the Mahabharata, a landmark Hindi-language series that spanned 93 episodes. My grandmother, Malti Harshey, was deeply captivated by the show. Having grown up listening to and reading chapters of this Indian epic in various forms, she saw the series not just as entertainment but as a revival of something deeply sacred.
Inspired, she began documenting each episode—writing her own reflections and summaries in Marathi, her native language. Her journal became a personal retelling of the televised series, penned with devotion, insight, and love. She completed all 93 episodes—one thoughtful chapter at a time.
After her passing in 2003, my mother, Mohini Harshey, inherited the journal. For years, she kept it safe—tucked away as a treasured memory. But after moving to the United States to live with me, she felt a renewed calling. She began translating the entire journal into English, chapter by chapter, preserving not just the words, but the spirit and rhythm of her mother’s storytelling. She completed this quiet labor of love in 2023.
The Story Lives On………
Now, I am stepping into this legacy with deep gratitude and a desire to share it with the world. With the help of ChatGPT, I’m shaping these translations into flowing, narrative blog posts—retelling the story through the lens of my grandmother’s handwritten notes, my mother’s translations, and my own voice as a storyteller in the digital age.
This blog is the next chapter in that journey. It is a digital archive of love, made to honor my grandmother’s memory, my mother’s dedication, and the timeless power of stories.
My grandmother’s journal with notes in Marathi summarizing each Mahabharata episode
My mother’s notes in English translating my grandmother’s notes in Marathi (above) for each episode
This project is also a space for our extended family—my aunts, uncle, cousins, and loved ones spread across the world—who all cherished my grandmother and will, I hope, enjoy reconnecting with her words.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
Come……follow along as I journey through the Mahabharata, one episode at a time.
These episodes come to you through my grandmother’s words, retold for today. As I revisit them, I find myself pausing, questioning, and seeing the Epic anew. This is as much a journey of reflection as it is of storytelling.
New posts will be added regularly on this page, and each one will continue to trace the path of this epic—not just through the story of kings, queens and the war (the ‘Mahabharat’ or ‘Mahabharata’), but through the lives and love of these women who helped it live on.
More context on ‘The Mahabharata’ – It is one of the world’s oldest and longest epic poems. Traditionally attributed to the Indian sage Vyasa, it is believed to recount events from ancient India and was passed down through generations before being compiled into written form. Scholars generally date its composition and expansion between the 4th century BCE and the 4th century CE. With over 100,000 verses, the Mahabharata continues to inspire readers through its timeless exploration of duty, destiny, morality, and human nature.
Mahabharat | Episodes 1-4
As I began working through the opening chapters of the Mahabharata, I was surprised to discover that the story does not begin with the Pandavas, the Kauravas, or even the famous battle of Kurukshetra. Instead, it takes us much further back in time to the ancestors whose choices would shape generations to come. These chapters…
Mahabharat | Episodes 5-9
These episodes of the Mahabharata mark a turning point—where destiny begins to take human form. From circumstances of birth of the forefathers of the Kuru dynasty (Dhritrashtra, Pandu and Vidur) to the birth of the five Pandavas as the next generation of the family, Episodes 5–9 reveal how choices and circumstances quietly shape the future…
Mahabharat | Episodes 10-15
About a Boy Who Would Be God………….Lord Krishna. In these episodes, we narrate the story of Krishna’s birth, his escape from Kansa’s prison, dancing on the serpent Kaliya, and lifting of the Govardhan hill. A soulful narrative blending myth, memory, and modern reflection. Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories of Mahabharata TV Episodes 10 to 15 in Marathi…
Mahabharata | Episodes 16-19
As my grandmother’s journal continues, the thread of Krishna’s divine mission tightens, while the lives of the Pandavas take a new, more difficult turn. These episodes blend miracle and mourning, power and prophecy—a reminder that in the Mahabharata, joy and sorrow often walk hand in hand. Krishna defeats Kansa, heartbreaking farewells unfold in Gokul, and…
Mahabharata | Episodes 20-22
Discover the turning points of the Mahabharata in Episodes 20–22: Karna’s mysterious birth, Arjun’s training under Dronacharya, and Shakuni’s deepening influence in Hastinapur. Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories of Mahabharata TV Episodes 20 to 22 in Marathi My Mother’s Translation in English My Digital Version – Mahabharata TV Episodes 20 – 22 (with a little help from…
Mahabharata | Episodes 23 – 25
Episodes 23–25 of Mahabharata trace the princes’ transformative years in Dronacharya’s gurukul—where discipline, skill, and destiny take shape. We follow the young Pandavas and Kauravas as they train rigorously in archery, warfare, and ethics, forming deep bonds while sowing the seeds of lifelong rivalry. Arjuna rises as Drona’s most devoted student, Karna secretly seeks mastery…
Mahabharata | Episodes 26 – 28
Episodes 26–28 explore Krishna’s move to Dwarka, Yudhishthir’s rise as crown prince, Rukmini’s bold choice, and the lacquer house conspiracy that begins to reshape destiny. Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories of Mahabharata TV Episodes 26 to 28 in Marathi My Mother’s Translation in English My Digital Version in My Voice – Mahabharata TV Episodes 26 – 28…
Mahabharata | Episodes 29 – 32
Explore the Lakshagriha episode of the Mahabharata—where deception, fire, and survival lead the Pandavas from royal life into transformation, revealing how moments of danger can become powerful turning points. My Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories of Mahabharata TV Episodes 29 to 32 in Marathi My Mother’s Translation in English of Mahabharata TV Episodes 29 to 32 My…
Mahabharata | Episodes 33 – 35
After escaping the fire of the Lakshagriha, the Pandavas vanish into the quiet town of Ekchakra, living in disguise and sustained by humility rather than power. But beneath this stillness lies fear—until Bhima confronts the terror of Bakasura and restores hope. What follows is a journey shaped not by choice, but by survival—leading them to…
Mahabharata | Episodes 36 – 37
When truth returns, so does conflict! The return of the Pandavas brings more than relief—it reopens the question of power in Hastinapur. As Bhishma proposes a divided kingdom and quiet tensions deepen, choices made in duty begin to carry the weight of destiny. My Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories of Mahabharata TV Episodes 36 to 37 in…
Mahabharata | Episodes 38 – 40
In Episodes 38–40, the Pandavas transform barren Khandavprastha into Indraprastha, redefining loss as opportunity. This reflection explores the deeper meaning of Karmabhoomi and the subtle yet powerful agency of women like Draupadi, Kunti, Gandhari, and Subhadra. My Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories in Marathi My Mother’s Translation of her Notes in English My Digital Version in My…
Mahabharata | Episodes 41 – 45
Episodes 41–45 explore Arjun and Subhadra’s return to Indraprastha, Jarasandh’s defeat, the Rajasuya Yagna, Shishupal’s death, the grandeur of the Mayasabha, and the psychological beginnings of the infamous Dyut Sabha. These episodes reveal how jealousy, ego, humiliation, and human weakness quietly begin shaping the downfall of the Kuru family. My Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories in Marathi…
Mahabharata | Episodes 46 – 50
Episodes 46–50 recount one of the darkest turning points in the epic — the disastrous game of dice where Yudhishthir loses his kingdom, his brothers, himself, and finally Draupadi. As Draupadi is humiliated before a silent royal court, her fearless questions on Dharma expose the moral collapse of Hastinapur itself. These chapters trace how jealousy,…
Mahabharata | Episodes 51 – 55
As the Pandavas’ years of exile drew closer to their end, the forests around them became more than a place of hardship. They became a classroom. Away from palaces, politics, and armies, the brothers faced some of the greatest tests of their lives—not tests of strength, but of character, wisdom, patience, and self-control. Meanwhile, far…
Mahabharata | Episodes 56 – 60
After twelve long years of forest exile, the Pandavas stood at the threshold of their greatest challenge yet. The rules of their punishment required them to spend one final year living in complete secrecy. If discovered, they would have to begin their exile all over again. This final chapter of their exile would test not…
Mahabharata | Episodes 61 – 68 | The Last Hope for Peace
The Mahabharata is often remembered for its great war, but these chapters tell the story of the final days before it began. As the Pandavas complete their exile, Krishna makes one last appeal for peace, Karna faces an impossible choice between loyalty and blood, and Vidur quietly stands by Dharma. Together, these moments bring the…
Mahabharata | Episodes 69 & 70
As the armies gather at Kurukshetra, the Mahabharata pauses before the first battle to reveal the personal conflicts that shape the coming war. Shalya is torn between honour and family, while Shikhandi’s lifelong quest for justice reaches its decisive moment. These chapters remind us that the greatest battles begin long before the first arrow is…
Mahabharata | Episode 71
The battlefield of Kurukshetra is ready. The armies have assembled. The commanders have taken their positions.Yet before the first arrow is released, the final hours are filled not with battle, but with reflection, prayer, memory, and quiet conversations.Every heart carries its own burden. My Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories in Marathi My Mother’s Translation in English My…
In this chapter of Mahabharata, as the armies of the Pandavas and Kauravas stand ready at Kurukshetra Arjun is overcome with sorrow at the thought of fighting his own family, teachers, and friends. In this pivotal chapter, Krishna begins the timeless discourse of the Bhagavad Gita, gently guiding Arjun from despair toward a deeper understanding…
Mahabharata | Episode 73 | Bhagavad Gita Coninues – Arjun Begins to Awaken – The Eternal Soul
As Krishna continues His teaching on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna begins to understand the eternal nature of the soul. This chapter explores life, death, duty, and the first awakening of Arjuna’s inner clarity in the Bhagavad Gita. My Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories in Marathi My Mother’s Translation in English Digital Version in my Voice –…
Mahabharata | Episode 74 | Bhagavad Gita Contines, Arjuna Learns To See Differently
As Arjuna’s understanding deepens, Krishna reveals that the Divine is not confined to temples or rituals, but is present throughout all creation. Mountains, rivers, trees, stars, wisdom, strength, and every living being become expressions of the same eternal presence, inviting Arjuna—and the reader—to see the world with new eyes. My Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories in Marathi…
In the climactic conclusion of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna reveals His Universal Form, showing Arjuna the Divine presence that pervades all creation. With his doubts finally dispelled, Arjuna finds the clarity and courage to embrace his Dharma as the great war of Kurukshetra begins. My Grandmother’s Handwritten Memories in Marathi My Mother’s Translation in English…
Mahabharata | Episodes 76 – 82 | First 13 days of the War
The Fall of Bhishma and the Death of Abhimanyu These chapters trace one of the Mahabharata’s most devastating arcs: from the fall of Bhishma Pitamah—the Kauravas’ grand old guardian, held aloft on a bed of arrows—to the merciless killing of Abhimanyu, the Pandavas’ young and radiant hope. Between these two deaths lies the transformation of…
Mahabharata | Episodes 83- 85 | Arjun’s Vow: Jaidrath Must Fall Before Sunset
After Abhimanyu’s brutal death on the thirteenth day of the war, a grief-stricken Arjun makes a perilous vow: Jaidrath must fall before sunset the following day, or Arjun will enter the fire. As the fourteenth day begins, the Kauravas hide Jaidrath behind layers of warriors, turning the battle into a desperate race against time. With…
Mahabharata | Episodes 86 & 87
The Half-Truth That Bore Ashwatthama’s Name and Brought Dronacharya’s Fall The war at Kurukshetra is now taking a painful turn. Ghatotkach’s (Bheem’s son) sacrifice saves Arjuna from a deadly weapon, while a half-truth bearing Ashwatthama’s name brings down Dronacharya. Through these intertwined losses, we encounter Karna’s dilemma, Yudhishthira’s troubled conscience, and Krishna’s difficult choices—each raising…
Mahabharata | Episodes 88 – 91
The Fall of Karna and Duryodhan: Final Days of the Kurukshetra War In Episodes 88–91, the Kurukshetra war enters its final and most devastating phase. Bheem fulfills his terrible vow against Dushshasan, while Karna and Arjun meet in the battle that has awaited them all their lives. Karna’s death reveals the truth of his birth,…
Episodes 92 – 93 | The War Ends, Life Begins: Parikshit and the Final Chapter of the Mahabharata
The war of Kurukshetra is over—but the Mahabharata is not quite finished. In these final two episodes of my grandmother’s telling, one last terrible act of revenge unfolds through Ashwatthama, while the birth of Parikshit offers an unexpected symbol of hope and continuity. The story then turns toward reckoning, as Dhritarashtra confronts his choices, Yudhishthir…
Mahabharata | Glossary – Key Characters and Relationships from the Epic
This glossary is based on the notes my grandmother included at the end of her Mahabharata journal. I have reorganized them visually for clarity and added or corrected a few details where necessary so that the relationships between the characters are easier to follow.
