The Mahabharata               

The exact date of composition of the epic is unknown, but it is said to have between 300 BC and 300 AD. The story it relates is of course from a much remoter age. It has a lakh slokas divided into 18 parvas, and is longer than any other known epic in the world. The Mahabharata is considered to be a philosophical text as it also incorporates the Bhagavad Gita; in fact the text claims to encompass everything a human being needs to know: “Whatever is here, is found elsewhere. But what is not here, is nowhere" (http://mahabharata-resources.org/quotes.html). It is considered to contain everything that a human being would want to know; if it is not mentioned in the Mahabharata, then it is something that you can ignore. The epic has suffused Indian life in all respects because it has been sung, recited and retold in various genres and ways. It has been translated into all major Indian languages including tribal languages. It exists outside India also, like the Indonesian text Kakawin Bharatayuddha which is the poetical rendering of a few parvas of the epic written by Mpu Sedah and Mpu Panuluh.

The Mahabharata was an inspiration and continues to be so, for writers and believers who are fascinated by the range of ethical and moral issues it raises. The range and complexity of characters have inspired a lot of creative rewrites and adaptations based on selected characters like Draupadi, Karna, Bhima etc.