What is Mahabharat?

महत्वाद् भारवत्ताच्च महाभारतमुचयते - It is Mahabharat because of its greatness and largeness (adiparva 1\300).

The dictionary meaning of Epic fits to the content of Mahabharat, and therefore we call this an epic. It is a long poetic composition, too long, but is it an epic in the same sense Iliad and Odyssey are considered epics?

The great Indian epic is probably the most remarkable work in Sanskrit after the Vedas - considering its size and diversity of content. This is largest of the epic literature found in the world till date – equal to eight times of Iliad and Odyssey together since 6^th century AD. Evident that it was not originally composed with 100000 verses, as it is claimed to consist of (Ś́a̅ttasa̅hasri̅samhita̅); but growth of its size through the ages proves its popularity since its inception.  Bards as well as poets through the ages certainly loved to add own composition to the original story of Mahabharat, resulting its being the largest compiled epic of the world. Obviously, Mahabharat is not grown as single homogenous work. What is Mahabharat, then?

Mahabharat, the core of which was known as Jaya – the song of the victory (Jayanametitihsoyam जयानामेतीतिहासोयम्) commemorating the deeds of heroism. The main story revolves around the Great War between Kaurava and Pandava, the objective of which was to establish the just right of a dynasty carrying the legacy of Bharat; the Great War which was initiated with the purpose of retaliating against insult to womanhood; the Great War which in turn united the far north, south, east and western part of India, that was called Bharat at the time of its unification. The concept of Bharat could not be so overwhelming if there was no Mahabharat. It needs a great heroic event to unify such a large mass of land within eighteen days and Mahabharat is the narrative of that event.

This is where the personality of Lord Krishna, the god of love and war in Hindu mythology, is in full bloom. Bhagavad-Gita, the most popular among all Gita texts, has been part of Mahabharat in the form of dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, the teacher and student. This is the book of philosophy for both the householder and the ascetic which became the source of varying discourses transmitting differing worldviews through centuries.

This is of course, a collection of verses – काव्यम् परमपूजितम् which displays poetic excellence of many bards and poets through the ages – names of whom are lost under the mystic shadow of Vyasdev and Ganesh. Be the names of composer’s names known to us or not, all of them are successful in illustrating the stillness of forests and hermitages, grace of the earth and ocean, fury in the battlefields and pain of mothers and wives of deseased heroes.

This is built as a treasure house of Indian lore. It can be called a collection of old tales or Puranasamhita – पुराणसम्हिता). This contains stories of gallant warriors and vigorous kings, saintly monarchs and majestic sages, wise seers and lustrous nymphs, dutiful wives and loving husbands, revengeful women and greedy men. Stories of Harischandra-Saivya, Viswamitra-Menaka, Nala-Damayanti, Savitri-Satyavan, Sarmistha-Yayati-Devyani are only few examples of interpolations those not only enhance the extent of the main epic, but also explain diversity of ancient Hindu view of life.

This is also a manual of Dharma – duties, Artha – material wealth, Kama – pleasure and Moksha – salvation.

Arthasastramidam proktam

Dharmasastramidam mahat

Kamasastramidam proktam

Vyasenamitabuddhina (1.2.383)

Mahabharat expounds the concept of dutifulness of ancient Indians who did not hesitate acting heroic in order to establish the just. It talks about wealth, acquiring which establishes supremacy of a king on this earth. This also propagates the concept of fulfillment of earthly desires, without which life of a householder is incomplete. Hense this is Sastra – sacred teachings that lead the reader and listener towards the route of Moksha at the end. Hense, Santi Parva of Mahabharat annouces at the end of the devastative war between kins and friends:

“Guhyam brahma tadidam vo bravimi....”(22.299.20) – There is nothing nobler than humanity.

Mahabharat is the whole literature that became source of inspiration to every division of knowledge-seekers including historians, political thinkers, philosophers, theologists, grammarians, poets, playwrites and story-writers. This is the book of great Indian myth which controls the moral of India since hundreds of years and will continue doing so.

Picture from http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com/2013/07/vishnu-vishwaroopa-pictures.html