| The Mahabharata is a classical Sanskrit epic of India, | | | | twin factors- Righteousness and Truth (Dharmam and |
| probably composed between 200 B.C. and A.D.; 200. It | | | | Sat yam). The epic, a mammoth edifice with Devotion |
| comprises more than 90,000 couplets, usually of 32 | | | | as its foundation projects Vidhura's intellectual acumen, |
| syllables, is the longest single poem in world literature, | | | | Kunti's sagacity, Gandhari's chastity and other spiritual |
| the 18-book work is traditionally ascribed to the ancient | | | | values It is an encyclopaedia of Laws and rules relating |
| sage Vyasa, but it was undoubtedly composed by a | | | | to tbe preservation of character. |
| number of bardic poets and later revised by priests. | | | | Collection of stories exploring the unique personality of |
| The title may be translated as "the great tale of the | | | | each character in the epic Mahabharata. The |
| Bh?rata dynasty". According to the Mahabharata's | | | | intricacies in understanding the subtle personalities of |
| own testimony it is extended from a shorter version | | | | characters such as Yuddhistara, Karna, Bhishma, |
| simply called Bharata of 24,000 verses. It has existed | | | | Drona, Draupadi, Kunti, Gandhari etc. are dealt with in |
| in many forms, the fundamental one being a text in | | | | more detail in this section. On. |
| ancient Sanskrit which may well be the world's second | | | | In its present form, the mahaabhaarata has eighteen |
| largest book (after the Gesar Epic of Tibet. | | | | parvas (chapters or books). |
| The Mahabharata, perhaps with some justification, is | | | | 1. Aadi |
| said to be the longest poem in the world. 100,000 | | | | 2. Sabhaa |
| stanzas strong, the epic has a story which is as | | | | 3. Vana |
| relevant to the world today as it was then. And if the | | | | 4. ViraaTa |
| Greek Epics - Iliad and the Odyssey are considered to | | | | 5. Udyoga |
| be long, then it wouldn’t be amiss to mention that | | | | 6. Bhiishma |
| the Mahabharata is eight times longer than Homer’s | | | | 7. DroNa |
| two epics – combined. | | | | 8. KarNa |
| The Mahabharata is an amazing tale full of drama, | | | | 9. Shalya |
| scheming, jealousy, human foibles and failings. The | | | | 10. Sauptika |
| legendary author of the epic is called Vyasa, which | | | | 11. Strii |
| means the compiler so we don’t really know the | | | | 12. Shanty |
| real name of the writer; although it has been | | | | 13. Anushaashana |
| suggested that a whole team of Brahmins composed | | | | 14. Aashvamedhika |
| it under the alias of Vyasa. | | | | 15. Aashramavaasika |
| The main theme underlying the Mahabharata | | | | 16. Mausala |
| emphasizes that unscrupulous and unethical conduct, | | | | 17. Mahaaprasthaanika |
| duplicity and evil deeds will never pay. One can | | | | 18. |
| achieve perfection and reach God solely guided by the | | | | |