Reading the Mahabharata as Sastra: The Role of the 'Righteous' Pandavas and 'Villainous' Kauravas in Madhva's Dvaitavedanta

Abstract

The Sanskrit Mahabharata is considered to be a sástra in Madhva Vaisnavism, and Madhva composed one of the earliest treatises dedicated to explaining the Mahabharata's deeper meaning. In doing so, he pays careful attention to the distinction between the righteous Pandavas and corrupt Kauravas- A distinction that exists in theory if not always in practice. How does Madhva demarcate the Kauravas and the Pandavas, and why does this matter for his own theology? Looking at two episodes that either blur or upend the demarcation of the Kauravas and Pandavas, the mace-battle between Bhīma and Duryodhana (9.60) and the Pandavas' journey to heaven (17-18.3), this article shows how Madhva's Mahabharatatatparyaniraya explains key tenets of Madhva's ontology and theology. When read carefully, each episode brings out important features of Madhva's doctrine of devatataratamya-the gradation of gods. Rather than simply understanding Madhva's commentary as a theologisation or vedanticisation of the narrative, I argue that his exegesis itself develops and explains central doctrines of Dvaitavedanta, particularly taratamya and aparokajnana. Vedanticization, in this understanding then, is not simply bringing forth an interpretation of the narrative that fits one's prior philosophical commitments, but it is a process of constituting theology through the narrative.