Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and is central to Hindu literary and religious tradition.

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and is central to Hindu literary and religious tradition. It tells the story of a dynastic struggle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, and includes the Bhagavad Gita as one of its best-known sections. Traditionally attributed to Vyāsa, the epic is widely regarded as one of the longest epic poems in the world.

Origins and composition

Tradition attributes the Mahabharata to Vyāsa, but modern scholarship generally treats it as a work that developed over centuries before reaching a form close to its present shape around the early centuries CE.

Narrative structure

The epic is organized around the rivalry between the Pandavas and Kauravas, with many subsidiary legends, philosophical dialogues, and didactic passages woven into the main story.

Religious and cultural significance

In Hindu tradition, the Mahabharata is valued as both a literary epic and a text about dharma and history. It contains the Bhagavad Gita, which is among the most influential texts in Hinduism.

Length and textual tradition

The Mahabharata is commonly described as the longest epic poem in world literature, especially in its extended versions, and survives in multiple recensions and regional adaptations.