According to tradition, who composed the Mahabharata?

According to Indian tradition, the Mahabharata was composed by the sage Krishna Dvaipayana, better known as Veda Vyasa.

About Veda Vyasa:

He is the son of the sage Parashara and Satyavati. He was called "Dvaipayana" because he was born on an island (dvipa) in the Yamuna, and "Krishna" because of his dark complexion.

He is called "Veda Vyasa" because he is believed to have divided ("vyasa" means "to divide" or "compile") the Vedas into four: Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva.

He is also traditionally credited with the 18 Puranas and the Brahma Sutras.

He is also a character in the Mahabharata itself: he is the grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas.

According to legend, Vyasa dictated the Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha, who agreed to write it on condition that Vyasa never paused; Vyasa in turn asked Ganesha to understand every verse before writing it.

Guru Purnima, celebrated on the full moon of the month of Ashadha, is also called "Vyasa Purnima" in his honour.

About the Mahabharata:

• It is one of the two great Sanskrit epics of India, along with the Ramayana.
• It is the longest epic poem in the world, with about 100,000 shlokas (verses) in its traditional form, divided into 18 parvas (books).
• It was originally called "Jaya" and later "Bharata", before growing into the Mahabharata.
• It tells the story of the conflict between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, ending in the Kurukshetra war.
• The Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna's teaching to Arjuna, is part of the Bhishma Parva.
• It was first narrated publicly by Vaishampayana, a disciple of Vyasa, at the snake sacrifice of King Janamejaya.

Other epic authors:

• Valmiki: the Ramayana; called the "Adi Kavi" (first poet).
• Kalidasa: "Raghuvamsha" and "Kumarasambhava".
• Tulsidas: "Ramcharitmanas" in Awadhi.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Valmiki composed the Ramayana.
• ✗Kalidasa wrote "Abhijnanashakuntalam".
• ✗Tulsidas wrote the "Ramcharitmanas".