Mahabharata--Arabic and Persian translations

[Guest guest]

I am unable to get details of Arabic and Persian translations of the

Mahabharata providing an overview of what episodes these included, so

that an idea can be formed of what constituted the Sanskrit text in the

11th century (when the first Arabic abridgement seems to have been

made) and the 16th century (when Akbar commissioned the Razmnama). What

I have gathered from R.G. Hershe's article in the Bulletin of the

Deccan Institute is that there is no mention of Krishna at all in the

Arabic synopsis, nor of anything unethical in the deaths of Bhishma,

Drona, Karna (they aren't even mentioned!). " Kaurava " is not mentioned

either though " Bharata " race and " Pandavas " and " Dhritarashtrans " are.

Interestingly, Duhshala receives special attention along with

Jayadratha as the translator knew Sind and was motivated to make this

abridgement because it mentions the ancestry of the Sindh monarchy.

I have requested the Jamia Millia deptts. of these languages many times

to provide some insight, but they do not reply. Would any member throw

light?