The Mahabharata is not just an epic; it is a romance, telling the tale of heroic and divine men and women. It contains a code of life, about social and ethical relations.

Literature is closely related to life and it is most true of the Mahabharata. Almost thirty centuries old, this epic has been an unfailing source of spiritual strength to the people of India.

In the Mahabharata we have strong and vivid portrayals of Bhishma, the perfect knight; the venerable Dronacharya; the vain but honourable Karna; Duryodhana, whose perverse pride is redeemed by great courage in difficult situations, the Pandavas, with god-like strength and with the power to bear suffering; Draupadi, most unfortunate of queens; Kunti, the worthy mother of heroes; and many others.

And then there is Lord Krishna, whose high purposefulness is all-pervading.