“Yuganta: The End of an Epoch is a Critical Analysis of the Mahabharata”

 

Introduction

The Mahabharata has traditionally been read as a religious epic, a storehouse of mythology, and a source of spiritual guidance. However, Iravati Karve’s Yuganta: The End of an Epoch approaches it from a very different angle. Written originally in Marathi and later translated into English, the book examines the characters of the Mahabharata not as gods or demons but as historical, human figures shaped by social and political forces. Karve’s method combines sociology, psychology, and literary criticism, which is why the book is considered a critical analysis of the Mahabharata rather than a devotional commentary.

Humanizing the Characters

A central feature of Karve’s critical approach is her demythologization of the epic’s characters. She strips them of divine halos and interprets them as human beings with strengths and weaknesses.

• Bhishma is seen not as a flawless patriarch but as a tragic figure whose rigid vows make him ineffective in preventing injustice.
• Karna is presented as a noble but bitter man, destroyed by the stigma of illegitimacy.
• Krishna is treated not as a god but as a shrewd political strategist.
  By focusing on their humanity, Karve transforms myth into realistic character studies, an essential feature of critical analysis.

Sociological and Psychological Insight

Karve applies the tools of sociology and psychology to interpret the epic. She looks at the family structure, gender relations, political power, and social customs of the time. For example:

• In Kunti’s life, she sees the struggle of a woman balancing motherhood with political necessity.
• In Draupadi’s humiliation, she identifies the collapse of dharma and the silencing of women in a patriarchal society.
• Gandhari’s blindfold becomes a symbol of wasted potential and voluntary subjugation.
  These interpretations highlight social realities and psychological struggles, turning the epic into a mirror of human society rather than a divine allegory.

Critical Treatment of Power and Morality

Another aspect of Karve’s critical analysis is her questioning of power, dharma, and morality. She critiques how figures like Bhishma misuse their authority by staying silent in moments of crisis, and how Krishna justifies bending rules for political expediency. Instead of glorifying these actions, Karve exposes their contradictions, showing how the epic reflects the complexity of moral choices in human life.

Historical Reading of the Epic

Karve also treats the Mahabharata as a historical record of social transition. The title Yuganta—“the end of an epoch”—captures this idea. The war signifies not just a clash between cousins but the collapse of an old order of values. Joint families, unquestioned obedience to elders, and the clarity of dharma give way to uncertainty, ambition, and moral ambiguity. This historical perspective is a hallmark of critical analysis, as it situates the epic in its social context.

Message and Relevance

By presenting the Mahabharata critically, Karve delivers a message that remains relevant: human beings are shaped by ambition, duty, and social pressures; power without justice leads to destruction; and every age faces its own yuganta—the death of old values and the birth of new ones. Her analysis allows readers to see the epic not as a remote myth but as a living text reflecting timeless human dilemmas.

Conclusion

Iravati Karve’s Yuganta: The End of an Epoch is rightly described as a critical analysis of the Mahabharata. Through rational interpretation, sociological insight, and psychological realism, she turns mythological heroes into relatable human beings. By critiquing their use of power, exposing their moral weaknesses, and situating them in the larger context of social change, Karve demonstrates that the Mahabharata is not just a sacred story but a profound study of human nature and society. Her work thus bridges the gap between ancient epic and modern critical thought, making Yuganta an enduring classic of literary and cultural analysis.

Bhishma: The Exercise and Abuse of Power in Iravati Karve’s Yuganta

In Yuganta: The End of an Epoch, Iravati Karve provides a humanistic and sociological reinterpretation of the characters of the Mahabharata. Among them, Bhishma, the grand patriarch of the Kuru dynasty, is presented as a deeply tragic figure. Karve critiques not only his rigid sense of duty but also the manner in which his authority and power were both exercised and abused, often to the detriment of society and justice.

Bhishma’s Power and Authority

Bhishma held unparalleled power in the Kuru dynasty. As the grandsire, commander-in-chief, and custodian of tradition, his word carried immense weight. He was respected by all for his personal sacrifice—renouncing marriage and kingship for the sake of his father. His celibacy and loyalty became legendary. Yet Karve points out that this very sacrifice, while noble on the surface, bound him to vows so rigid that they made him ineffective in moments that demanded flexibility and compassion.

Failure of Moral Leadership

Karve emphasizes that Bhishma misused his moral authority by remaining silent in times of crisis. For instance, during the infamous dice game where Draupadi was humiliated in the Kaurava court, Bhishma did not intervene decisively. Though he knew that dharma was being violated, his attachment to his vow of loyalty to the throne prevented him from acting. This inaction, Karve suggests, was an abuse of his moral power, because silence in the face of injustice is as damaging as active wrongdoing.

Power Without Responsibility

One of Karve’s strongest critiques is that Bhishma’s immense power lacked effective responsibility. He had the authority to guide Duryodhana away from reckless pride, to prevent the conflict between the cousins, or to assert dharma during Draupadi’s insult. Yet, he chose to remain bound by his duty to the throne, even when the throne was occupied by morally weak rulers like Dhritarashtra. Thus, Bhishma’s exercise of power became self-serving loyalty to vows, rather than genuine responsibility toward justice and society.

Rigid Adherence to Vows

Karve portrays Bhishma as a man enslaved by his own vows. His celebrated celibacy and lifelong service to the Kuru throne, instead of being virtues, became chains that restricted him from acting freely. This rigidity reflects an abuse of personal power, because it allowed injustice to flourish while he remained trapped in formal obligations. In Karve’s reading, true power should be exercised with flexibility and humanity, not blind adherence to rules.

The Tragedy of Bhishma

Bhishma’s tragedy, according to Karve, lies in the gap between his reputation and his actions. He was revered as a symbol of wisdom and dharma, yet in crucial moments, he failed to use his authority to protect the weak or to prevent war. By exercising power passively and misusing his authority through silence, he became indirectly responsible for the destruction of the Kuru dynasty. Karve thus critiques him as a figure whose greatness was undermined by his inability to rise above his vows.

Conclusion

In Yuganta, Iravati Karve critiques Bhishma not simply as a noble elder but as a leader who abused his power by failing to exercise it rightly. His silence during Draupadi’s humiliation, his loyalty to corrupt rulers, and his rigid adherence to vows demonstrate the misuse of authority in the name of duty. Bhishma’s example shows how power, when not directed toward justice, becomes destructive. Karve’s analysis turns him from a heroic patriarch into a tragic reminder of how excessive loyalty to tradition can lead to moral failure and social collapse.

 

YUGANTA: The End of an Epoch – Study Notes

By Iravati Karve

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Introduction

The Mahabharata is one of the greatest epics of India, filled with stories of gods, heroes, wars, and moral struggles. Traditionally, it has been read as a religious text with deep spiritual messages. However, in her famous work Yuganta: The End of an Epoch, Iravati Karve takes a very different approach. She treats the Mahabharata as a record of human experiences rather than a divine story. She studies the characters as real people—full of strengths, weaknesses, ambitions, and flaws.

Karve uses a rational and historical method. She avoids religious explanations and instead tries to understand the epic as literature, history, and sociology. She focuses on the end of the Dvapara Yuga and the coming of Kali Yuga, a time when the old order collapsed and a new age began. According to Karve, this “end of an epoch” reflects both human greatness and human failure.

Her essays in Yuganta analyze key characters like Bhishma, Kunti, Gandhari, Draupadi, Karna, Yudhishthira, Krishna, and others. She discusses themes such as fate, power, morality, the role of women, and the tragic consequences of ambition. The book is respected because it makes the Mahabharata more relatable to modern readers and encourages us to think about human nature in new ways.

Karve’s Approach to the Mahabharata

Karve’s approach is different from the traditional religious one. Instead of treating the Mahabharata as a holy scripture, she studies it as a historical text. She points out that the story was written over centuries and reflects the values, politics, and society of ancient India.

Her method has three important aspects:

1. Humanistic – She sees the characters not as gods or demons, but as ordinary people with desires, mistakes, and emotions.

2. Critical – She questions the decisions made by powerful figures, showing how their choices often led to destruction.

3. Sociological – She highlights the role of women, family systems, caste, and political struggles in shaping events.

This makes Yuganta a unique book. It gives a modern and realistic interpretation of the epic, which helps students connect with it as a story of human beings rather than divine destiny.

Analysis of Key Characters

1. Bhishma

Bhishma is one of the most powerful figures in the epic. He is respected for his vow of celibacy and loyalty to the throne of Hastinapura. But Karve criticizes Bhishma for his rigid sense of duty.

• He sacrificed his own happiness for the sake of his father, but this vow later brought suffering to the kingdom.

• He served the throne blindly, even when the rulers were unjust, like Dhritarashtra.

• Though wise, he did not stop the humiliation of Draupadi in the court.

Karve sees Bhishma as a tragic figure—noble in intention but harmful in effect. His loyalty to the throne became a weakness, as he failed to act against injustice. This shows the danger of following duty without questioning morality.

2. Kunti

Kunti, mother of the Pandavas, is portrayed as a strong but complex woman.

• She showed courage in raising her children after Pandu’s death.

• She was ambitious for their success and always guided them to claim their rights.

• Yet, her decisions also caused suffering—for example, keeping Karna’s birth a secret.

Karve points out that Kunti was torn between personal emotions and political needs. Her silence about Karna until the last moment shows her inability to accept social blame. This secret shaped Karna’s tragic destiny.

Kunti’s life reflects the struggles of women in a patriarchal society. She had to suppress her desires and live only as a mother and widow.

3. Gandhari

Gandhari, the wife of Dhritarashtra, represents patience and sacrifice. She blindfolded herself to share her husband’s darkness. But Karve questions this act—was it true sacrifice, or pride?

Gandhari was often silent in crucial moments. She could not stop her sons from committing evil deeds. Only after the war did she express her grief and anger, cursing Krishna himself.

Karve presents Gandhari as a woman caught between loyalty to her husband and responsibility as a mother. Her silence cost her dearly, as she lost all her sons in the war.

4. Draupadi

Draupadi is one of the most dynamic women in the epic. Born from fire, she symbolises passion, strength, and pride.

• She was married to five men, which was against the norm, but she managed this unique situation with dignity.

• She was deeply wronged during the dice game when she was humiliated in the Kaurava court.

• Her demand for revenge played a major role in the war.

Karve admires Draupadi’s courage but also shows how her pride and anger sometimes increased conflict. Draupadi represents women’s resistance in a male-dominated world, but also the tragic cost of vengeance.

5. Karna

Karna is perhaps the most tragic hero of the Mahabharata. Born to Kunti before her marriage, he was abandoned and raised by a charioteer’s family.

• He was a great warrior but always suffered due to his low social status.

• He remained loyal to Duryodhana, who gave him respect when others mocked him.

• His rivalry with Arjuna was central to the epic.

Karve sees Karna as a victim of fate and social prejudice. His generosity and loyalty were admirable, but his bitterness pushed him into siding with adharma (injustice). His death after knowing his true identity adds to the tragedy.

6. Yudhishthira

Yudhishthira is known for his truthfulness and sense of dharma. But Karve shows how his rigid morality sometimes became dangerous.

• He gambled away his kingdom, brothers, and even Draupadi.

• His idea of dharma often made him indecisive in critical moments.

• Yet, after the war, he became a just and peaceful ruler.

Karve portrays him as a man struggling to balance morality with responsibility. His mistakes caused great suffering, but his sincerity brought stability after the war.

7. Krishna

Krishna is the most complex character in the epic. Traditionally seen as divine, Karve interprets him as a political genius and strategist.

• He supported the Pandavas but often used cunning methods, like advising deceitful killings of Bhishma, Drona, and Karna.

• He valued justice but was not bound by conventional morality.

• His role shows that in politics, sometimes practical action is more important than idealism.

Karve admires Krishna’s leadership but also shows that his methods raised questions about morality. He represents the idea that great changes in history often come through ruthless decisions.

Themes in Yuganta

1. The Abuse of Power

Karve highlights how powerful figures in the epic often misused their authority. Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana, and others failed to use power responsibly. Their actions led to destruction.

2. Women and Patriarchy

The epic shows how women like Kunti, Gandhari, and Draupadi struggled in a male-dominated society. They had strength but were forced into silence or suffering because of social rules.

3. Fate vs. Free Will

Many characters blamed fate for their problems. But Karve argues that human choices shaped the war more than destiny. The tragedy was caused by human weakness, not just divine will.

4. Morality and Dharma

The epic questions what is truly right. Bhishma followed duty blindly, Yudhishthira followed dharma rigidly, Krishna used practical wisdom, and Draupadi sought justice passionately. Together, they show that morality is complex and cannot be defined simply.

5. End of an Epoch

The war of Kurukshetra destroyed an entire generation. Families, kingdoms, and traditions collapsed. Karve calls this the “end of an epoch,” showing how history moves forward by ending old systems, often through tragedy.

Karve’s Criticism of Bhishma’s Power

One of Karve’s strongest points is her critique of Bhishma. Though respected as a noble elder, Bhishma abused his power by serving the throne blindly.

• He allowed injustice in the court.

• He failed to stop Draupadi’s humiliation.

• His vow became a curse for Hastinapura.

Karve says Bhishma’s tragedy was that he confused duty with morality. His silence and inaction allowed evil to grow. This makes him responsible, in part, for the war and destruction.

Conclusion

Iravati Karve’s Yuganta is a unique study of the Mahabharata. Instead of treating it as mythology, she studies it as human history. Her essays show that the epic is not just about gods and fate but about human choices, mistakes, and ambitions.

• Characters like Bhishma, Kunti, Gandhari, Draupadi, Karna, Yudhishthira, and Krishna are presented as real human beings.

• Themes like power, morality, women’s struggles, and the end of an era are explored deeply.

• The book teaches us that the downfall of great dynasties often comes not from fate but from the weaknesses of individuals.

For students, Yuganta is important because it gives a critical and modern way of reading the Mahabharata. It shows that even ancient stories can help us understand today’s world—about leadership, justice, power, and human relationships.

Thus, Yuganta is both a study of the past and a mirror for the present. It teaches that every age ends because of human failures, but from those failures, a new age always begins.