Originally published in the year 1951,the huge popularity of the book ,has resulted in the book being re-printed 52 times,the latest being in the year,2008. Centuries ago, it was proclaimed of the Mahabharata: 'What is not in it, is nowhere.' But even now, we can use the same words about it. He who knows it not, knows not the heights and depths of the soul; he misses the trials and tragedy and the beauty and grandeur of life. More details: The Mahabharata is not a mere epic; it is a romance, telling the tale of heroic men and women, and of some who were divine; it is a whole literature in itself, containing a code of life, a philosophy of social and ethical relations, and speculative thought on human problems that is hard to rival; but, above all, it has for its core the Gita,which is, as the world is beginning to find out, the noblest of scriptures and the grandest of sagas in which the climax is reached in the wondrous apocalypse in the Eleventh Canto. The book's popularity is such taht it has run into forty two reprints.

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, popularly known as "Rajaji" or "C.R" was a great patriot, astute politician, incisive thinker, great visionary and one of the greatest statesmen of all time. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, hailed as conscience-keeper of the Mahatma. An ardent freedom-fighter, as Chief Minister of Madras, as Governor of West Bengal, as Home Minister of India, he rendered yeoman service to the nation and left an indelible impression on our contemporary life.

Rajaji was closely associated with Kulapati Munshuji and he was among the distinguished founder members of the Bhavan. The Bhavan had the privilege of publishing 18 books authored by him so far, the copyright of which he gifted to Bhavan.

The thought-processes of this patriarch retained their sharp edge, while the notes of his silver tongue did not lose any of their charms even when he was a nonagenarian. Rajaji passed away in 1972 at the age of 94.