Mahabharata

Kurukshetra

Krishna and Arjun on the chariot, Mahabharata, 18th-19th century, India

Sauti recites the slokas of the Mahabharata

Vyasa Reviewing Mahabharata

Snakesacrifice

Draupadi and Pandavas

Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princes and their successors. It also contains philosophical and devotional material, such as a discussion of the four "goals of life" or purusharthas. Among the principal works and stories that are a part of the Mahabharata are the Bhagavad Gita, the story of Damayanti, an abbreviated version of the Ramayana, and the Rishyasringa, often considered as works in their own right.

Composition and Authorship

Traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa, the Mahabharata is said to have been written in the form of a poem containing nearly 100,000 shlokas or couplets. It is the longest epic poem known and has been described as "the longest poem ever written". Its longest version consists of over 100,000 shloka or over 200,000 individual verse lines (each shloka is a couplet), and long prose passages. At about 1.8 million words in total, the Mahabharata is roughly ten times the length of the Iliad and the Odyssey combined, or about four times the length of the Ramayana.

Structure

The Mahabharata is structured around the central story of the dynastic struggle but includes much philosophical and devotional material. The narrative is divided into 18 books called Parvas, with the Harivamsha considered as an appendix. This structure allows for a vast and complex array of sub-stories to be included, making the Mahabharata not just a story of a war, but a vast epic of morals, lessons, and philosophical thoughts.

Key Characters

The key characters of the Mahabharata include Krishna, who is a key strategist for the Pandavas and also a deity in his own right; the Pandava brothers, namely Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva; and their rivals, the Kauravas, especially Duryodhana and Karna. Other important characters include Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas; Bhishma, the grand uncle of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas; and Drona, the military guru of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas.

Themes and Philosophy

The Mahabharata explores themes such as duty, righteousness, and the moral dilemmas of warfare. The Bhagavad Gita, which is a part of the Mahabharata, is a key philosophical text that discusses the concept of dharma (duty/righteousness) and the path to spiritual realization. The epic also explores the idea of karma, the cycle of rebirth, and the importance of doing one's duty in life.

Cultural Impact

The Mahabharata has had a profound impact on the culture and literature of the Indian subcontinent and the Hindu religion. It has been adapted into numerous plays, films, and television series. The stories and characters of the Mahabharata are deeply embedded in the cultural consciousness of India, influencing its art, religion, and philosophy.