ABSTRACT
The Mahabharata, whose main story revolves around the fight between the Kauravas and Pandavas, culminating in the epic battle of the Kurekshetra, and has hundreds of stories woven around its narrative, can be regarded as a vast encyclopaedia of religion, mythology, philosophy, politics, and statecraft. A key concept in the Mahabharata is dharma, which supports the universe and needs to be practised by individuals as well as State. The most revolutionary thinking in the Mahabharata, which corresponds to current day democratic thought, is that people have a right to remove a ruler who does not look after their welfare. According to the Mahabharata, protection of the people is possible only when governance is impartial and law is followed. It discusses the issue of kshma - forgiveness and reconciliation as well as bala - force for self-protection. The principles and values of good governance enunciated in the epic are as relevant today as when they were expounded several millennia ago.
