The Mahabharata

The <i>Mahabharata</i> is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. It is of immense importance to the culture of the Indian subcontinent and is a major text of Hinduism. Its discussion of human goals (artha or 'purpose' kama or 'pleasure' dharma or 'duty' and moksha or 'liberation') takes place in a long-standing tradition attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society and the world (the nature of the 'Self') and the workings of karma.