The Start of Mahabharata Story

How it got written down

Veda Vyasa wrote Mahabharata. He had witnessed all the events from start to finish.
After the end of the great war and all the destruction that was caused by it Vyasa thought that he should record the entire episode for the benefit of future generations. What he wanted to write would become too voluminous for him to compose in verse and at the same time write it down. Who would help him ?

So, he started meditating on Brahma , the creator. Soon, Brahma appeared before him and advised him to approach Ganapathy for the task. Accordingly, he started praying for Ganapathy who soon made his appearance before him. Delighted, Veda Vyasa put his request to the God.

Ganapathy had no objection to help him in writing the epic down. But, he did not like being kept waiting for the material. In other words, Ganapathy wanted Vyasa to dictate continuously to him. Vyasa, after a moment's reflection agreed, but, on one condition. Ganapathy should not write anything down without understanding the meaning. The God agreed to this condition from Vyasa.

Thus started the recording of the great epic, some 200, 000 lines of poetry. Whenever Veda Vyasa needed time to think and compose he would dictate a few stanzas of poem that were difficult to understand. This would make Ganapathy stop for a while thinking about the meaning. That way, the great poet accomplished the task with help from Ganapathy.