# What are the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-mahabharata-and-ramayana-epics/946599>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** books-writing-myths\
**Created:** [July 16, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-mahabharata-and-ramayana-epics/946599 "2021-07-16T02:00:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-mahabharata-and-ramayana-epics/946599/21 "2021-07-17T21:24:40Z")

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Can you recommend a good translation of the Bhagavad Gita? I had an ISKCON copy my Jewish parents bought for me at a church rummage sale. But, I’ve been told Prabhupada’s translation is worthless.

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**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-mahabharata-and-ramayana-epics/946599/22 "2021-07-18T02:50:11Z")

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> [@DocCathode](#):
>
> For example it isn’t Muh Hobb Huh Rot uh. It’s closer to Mah H’bart.

That pronunciation is regional - sounds like Bengali or Oriya, but I can be wrong. It is definitely not Hindi.

> [@Johanna](#):
>
> … who say “yoga,” because those in the know know that the true pronunciation is “yog.”

Depending on the part of the country, yog maybe pronounced differently. For example, Bengalis will pronounce y as J, and so will many Hindi Khadiboli (Hindi has many dialects too).

> [@Johanna](#):
>
> As for trans men in India, there is no subculture/initiatory society for them corresponding to hijra. Why is that?

@Johanna : I did not know about trans men. Learnt something new today. Also saw this video on youtube where a trans Indian man answers a lot of questions.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lpSFFj5gJF4/maxresdefault.jpg "10 Questions You Always Wanted to Ask a Trans Man") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpSFFj5gJF4)

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