Mahābhārata

The Mahābhārata is the longest epic poem in world literature, traditionally attributed to Vyāsa. It recounts the dynastic struggle between the Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas culminating in the great war at Kurukṣetra.

Content

The epic encompasses the narrative of the war, extensive philosophical and religious discourses including the Bhagavad Gītā, legal and ethical treatises, and numerous embedded tales.

Significance

It is a foundational text of Hindu civilization, shaping theology, law, philosophy, and the performing arts across millennia and multiple cultures.

Verification

The oldest preserved parts are not much older than c. 400 BCE; the bulk was probably compiled between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE, and the text probably reached its final form by the early Gupta period (c. 4th century CE). Extensive manuscript tradition across South Asia.

• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).