Myth and Ideology of the Imperial Kṣatriya:

Viewing the Mahābhārata from Here and Now

Abstract

The article "Myth and Ideology of the Imperial Kṣatriya: Viewing the Mahābhārata from Here and Now" by Simon Brodbeck examines how the Mahābhārata constructs and transmits layered ideological frameworks for Kṣatriya identity—both as historical subjects and as mythic prototypes. Brodbeck identifies three interpretive levels in the epic: the mundane (everyday politics and conflict), the ethical (idealized moral narratives), and the cosmic (divine orchestration beyond human comprehension). He explores how these layers map onto modern narratives of warfare and power, including the “war on terror,” suggesting that just as the Mahābhārata’s characters act out their roles unaware of cosmic scripts, so too do modern actors enact mythologized ideologies under the guise of political necessity. The article thus challenges readers to recognize parallels between ancient epic ideology and contemporary imperial narratives, revealing the Mahābhārata not as distant myth but as a lens for unpacking modern constructions of sovereignty, violence, and righteousness.

Keywords: Simon Brodbeck, Mahābhārata, Kṣatriya ideology, mythic levels, cosmic war, ethics, sovereignty, imperialism, political myth, war on terror.