Chitrangada is a renowned female character from the epic Mahabharata. She is the wife of the valiant Arjuna and the princess of the kingdom of Manipur. Her father, King Chitravahana, raised her as a son due to the absence of a male heir. He ensured she was skilled in all forms of knowledge and warfare.
During Arjuna’s travels, he passed through Manipur and was captivated by Chitrangada’s beauty and bravery. He approached King Chitravahana to ask for her hand in marriage. The king agreed on the condition that any child born from their union would be raised as the heir to the throne of Manipur, not as a Pandava. Arjuna accepted this condition and married Chitrangada. They had a son named ‘Babruvahana’.
Babruvahana – S/o Chitrangada
Chitrangada’s greatness as a mother is evident in how she raised her son, Babruvahana, without any support from her father. After Babruvahana’s birth, Arjuna entrusted Chitrangada with his upbringing and left Manipur. Just as Subhadra raised Abhimanyu to be a great warrior, Chitrangada trained Babruvahana to become a brave and worthy son.
Despite the challenges of single parenthood, Chitrangada nurtured Babruvahana with immense love and dedication. She ensured he was trained in all the arts of warfare and leadership, preparing him to be a worthy successor to the throne of Manipur. Her efforts bore fruit as Babruvahana grew up to be a brave and skilled warrior, capable of facing even his father in battle.
Chitrangada’s greatness as a daughter is equally remarkable. Her father, King Chitravahana, raised her as a son, teaching her all the skills and knowledge typically reserved for male heirs. Chitrangada embraced this upbringing wholeheartedly, excelling in various disciplines and proving herself to be a capable and courageous individual.
Her father’s decision to raise her as a son was vindicated by her achievements and the respect she garnered as a warrior princess. Chitrangada’s dedication to her father’s wishes and her ability to uphold the responsibilities of a son highlight her exceptional qualities as a daughter.
Kurukshetra War
Chitrangada’s story also intertwines with the larger narrative of the Mahabharata. Following the Kurukshetra war, Yudhishthira decided to perform the Ashwamedha Yagna and sent Arjuna to guard the sacrificial horse. As the horse travelled through various kingdoms, it reached Manipur, leading to a fierce battle between Arjuna and Babruvahana.
In this battle, Babruvahana’s arrows gravely wounded Arjuna, leading to his death. Chitrangada, distressed by this, blamed Ulupi for inciting Babruvahana. However, Ulupi used her mystical Nagamani to revive Arjuna, bringing immense joy to Chitrangada. She then accompanied Arjuna to Hastinapur with their son and lived there, caring for everyone with affection, including her mother-in-law Gandhari.
When the Pandavas, along with Draupadi, embarked on their journey to the heavens, Chitrangada returned to Manipur with Babruvahana.
Chitrangada | Women from The Mahabharata | Princess of Manipur | Arjuna’s Wife – youtube link
Final Word
Chitrangada’s life is a testament to her strength, resilience, and dedication. As a mother, she raised her son to be a great warrior without any external support. As a daughter, she fulfilled her father’s expectations and proved herself to be a capable and courageous individual.
Her story is an inspiring example of how one can rise above challenges and fulfil multiple roles with grace and determination.
Mandodari the wife of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka and Bhanumati the wife of Duryodhana the prince of the Kaurava dynasty, were the two women characters we come across in the great Indian epics Sri Ràmàyana and Sri Mahabharata respectively.
They were highly pious and helpless witnesses in the face of sorrows they had to suffer because their adamant, arrogant and jealous husbands trod the path of non-righteousness or adharma.
Swayamvara
Chitravarma the king of Kambhoj invited all the kings for the ‘Swayamvara’, a ceremony in which the bride selects the bridegroom of her choice, for his daughter Bhanumati. She was the most beautiful and intelligent and had gained mastery over martial arts.
Prominent kings
The prominent kings among the invitees were Duryoddhana, Karna, Shishupala, Jarasandha, Bhishmaka, Vakra, Kapotaroman, Nila, Rukmi, Sringa, Asoka and Satadhanwan. As the swayamvara commenced Bhanumati, accompanied by her close friend Supriya entered the court hall, holding a garland in her hands.
She slowly started to walk in front of the invited kings while the minister introduced one after the other. Thus, she moved ahead of Duryodhana. This rejection from Bhanumati flared up his anger and he caught hold of her hand and forcibly led her onto his chariot, and rode back to Hastinapura.
Karna defeated the other kings who challenged Duryodhana’s act of arrogance in the battle. Duryodhana justified his act as ‘kshatra dharma’ and by referring to an incident in the life of his great grandfather Bhishma wherein he abducted three princesses – Amba, Ambica, Ambalika of Kashi as brides for his stepbrothers.
Bhanumati with great concern towards the reputation of her parents and also that of the Kaurava family, at last, gave her consent to marry Duryodhana.
After Marriage
After her marriage, Bhanumati came to know about Duryodhana’s jealous, arrogant attributes, non-righteous acts and about his rivalry with Pandavas. Several times she advised him to tread the path of righteousness and to put an end to the rivalry with Pandavas. Though he loved his wife most did never care to heed her words.
As the time lapsed, one day Bhanumati understood that the negative attributes of Duryodhana which crept into his mind by birth were the hardest nuts impossible to crack. She was endowed with an apex level of mature thinking and like an ideal wife, she is reconciled to his ways, accepts him as he is and loves Duryodhana.
Bhanumati at all times took every care of the needs, comforts and pleasures of her husband Duryodhana.
Twins – Lakshmana Kumara and Lakshmana
In due course, Bhanumati became the mother of twins, a son Lakshmana Kumara and a daughter Lakshmana. She was an ideal mother too. She nurtured her two children with utmost love and care. Consequently, both Lakshmana Kumara and Lakshmana grew up into perfect individuals endowed with all ideal attributes.
Samba, the son of Jambavati and Sri Krishna abducts Lakshmana on the occasion of her Swayamvara. But Kaurava soldiers capture him and detain him in the prison. Balarama who was very angry over this waged a war against Duryodhana. But Duryodhana was in a battle with his guru. At this juncture, Bhanumati by her pleasant conversation greatly impressed Balarama and he too accepts the marriage of Samba with Lakshmana.
Bhanumati always wished victory for dharma
Bhanumati was a god-fearing pious woman. She always wished victory for dharma. At the same time, she was equally worried about the fate of her husband Duryodhana, because her strong belief was that evil deeds will invariably reap evil consequences.
After the defeat of Dharmaraja in the game of dice, when Duhshasana tried to disrobe Draupadi in the Kaurava court, Bhanumati knows well that the flames of the curse of anger and the tears of Draupadi would devastate the entire Kaurava clan. So she raised her voice against the ill-treatment of Draupadi and came running to help Draupadi, and took her away from the court into the Draupadi’s chamber inside the palace.
Devotee of Sri Krishna
Bhanumati was an ardent devotee of Sri Krishna. She strongly believed that in Dwaparayuga Lord Vishnu himself took birth as Sri Krishna. Once when Sri Krishna visited the palace of Duryodhana, Bhanumati invited him into the palace with great respect, offered him her prayers and impressed him with her rich hospitality.
Also when Sri Krishna comes to Hastinapura as an ambassador for a peace treaty between Kauravas and Pandavas, Bhanumati to avert the battle of Kurukshetra, advises Duryodhana to listen to the word of Sri Krishna.
The battle of Kurukshetra became inevitable. Bhanumati pathetically lamented at the corpses of her son and husband who lost their lives in the battle of Kurukshetra. But she never blamed Pandavas over this.
Bhanumati was a noble royal lady, who considered family reputation and the Hindu marriage system in high esteem.
“Vasudev’s son is the divine, the slayer of Kamsa and Chanura. Devaki’s supreme joy, I bow to Krishna, the guru of the world.”
Devaki, the mother of Lord Krishna, was the daughter of Devaka and the niece of King Shurasena of the Mathura kingdom. She was wedded to Vasudeva, the king of the Yadu dynasty, in a grand ceremony. Kamsa, Devaki’s cousin who held great affection for her, took it upon himself to drive the newlyweds to their home.
However, their joyous journey was interrupted by a prophetic voice from the heavens. It announced that Devaki’s eighth child would be the cause of Kamsa’s downfall. Enraged and fearful, Kamsa attempted to kill Devaki on the spot.
Vasudeva, in his wisdom and love for Devaki, intervened. He assured Kamsa that he would personally hand over every child born to him. He appealed to Kamsa’s sense of honour, arguing that it was unbecoming of a brave warrior like Kamsa to harm a defenceless woman, especially out of fear.
Moved by Vasudeva’s words and trusting his integrity, Kamsa decided against killing Devaki. Instead, he imprisoned the couple, thus setting the stage for the divine events that were to follow.
As soon as Devaki gives birth to a child, Vasudeva, according to his given word, takes the newborn child and gives it to Kamsa. Pleased with Vasudeva’s truthfulness, Kamsa says that he is in danger of Devaki’s eighth child, so he does not want to kill this first child. After Devarshi Narada’s visit, Kamsa changes his mind.
From then on, Kamsa starts killing every newborn child of Devaki and Vasudeva along with their first child. In this way, six children were killed by Kamsa.
Vishnu Maya changes the devaki’s womb to Rohini, who is another wife of Vasudeva and lives near Nanda in Gokul. As a result, Balaram is born to Rohini. Because he was born due to the contraction of the womb, Balaram is also called ‘Sankarshan’.
8th Child- Sri Krishna
Sri Krishna was born to Devaki as her eighth child at midnight on Krishna Paksha of Shravan month on the day of Rohini Nakshatra on Ashtami Tithi. When he was born, he showed his parents his divine form. Devaki and Vasudeva praised him and asked him to hide his divine form so that Kamsa wouldn’t recognize him as a threat.
Following divine command, Vasudeva carried his newborn son, Lord Krishna, to Nanda’s house in Gokul. In Krishna’s place, he brought back Yogamaya, Yashoda’s daughter, to Kamsa. Upon seeing Kamsa ready to kill the baby girl, Devaki pleaded pitifully. She reminded Kamsa that she was his niece and that the prophecy had foretold danger from a nephew, not a niece. Despite having already killed six of her children, Kamsa showed no mercy and attempted to kill Yogamaya.
However, Yogamaya miraculously escaped from Kamsa’s clutches. Ascending to the sky, she declared that Kamsa’s nemesis, Krishna, had already been born and was safe in Gokul. After revealing this truth, she vanished.
Devaki was left in awe, contemplating the divine illusion that had unfolded before her eyes. This event marked a significant moment in the narrative, highlighting the divine play of Lord Krishna and the unshakeable faith of his devotees.
In the era of Swayambhu Manvantara, there was a devoted couple, Sutapu and Prishni. They were none other than Vasudeva and Devaki in their previous lives. Their devotion to Lord Vishnu was so profound that they performed penance for twelve years, constantly remembering Him.
Moved by their devotion, Lord Vishnu offered to grant them a boon. Instead of asking for salvation, the ultimate goal of life, they asked for a son like Him. As there is no one like the Lord Himself, He had to incarnate as their son, not once, but three times on earth.
Lord Krishna Killing Kamsa
Births
The first time, He was born as Prishni Garbha to Prishni.
The second time, when the couple were reborn as Aditi and Kashyap, Lord Vishnu took the form of Vamana.
Finally, in their third birth as Devaki and Vasudeva, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Sri Krishna.
In each of these births, the Lord fulfilled His promise to the pious couple.
3rd Incarnation
In His third incarnation as Krishna, He not only showed them His divine form at birth but also assured them that they would love Him as a son, remember Him as the Supreme Being, and ultimately attain salvation.
This divine tale is a testament to the Lord’s boundless love for His devotees and His willingness to go to great lengths to fulfil their wishes. It serves as a reminder to all of us to remain steadfast in our devotion, for the Lord is always listening and ready to bless us in ways beyond our comprehension.
In the epoch of Dwapara Yuga, Lord Vishnu found immense joy in being known as the son of Devaki. This divine mother-son bond is celebrated in numerous stotras and verses of devotional literature. The Vishnu Sahasranama, a revered text composed by Bhishma, contains many verses that affirm this relationship.
This verse extols Lord Vishnu as Devaki’s son, the creator of the universe, and the destroyer of sins.
The Bhagavat Purana also begins with a verse that highlights Devaki’s divine role: “Adau Devaki Devi Garbha Jananam.” This verse signifies the commencement of Devaki’s divine journey as the mother of Lord Vishnu.
Final Word
Devaki is indeed the most blessed woman in creation, for she had the extraordinary fortune of giving birth to Lord Vishnu three times. Her status as the divine mother makes her perpetually blessed and venerable.
This narrative serves as a testament to Devaki’s unparalleled devotion and the profound bond she shares with Lord Vishnu.
Sanjaya was the charioteer and advisor of the blind King, Dhrutarashtra. He came from a family of charioteers and his father was Rishi, Gavalgana. He was a disciple of the sage Veda Vyasa and an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. He was popularly known for depicting the events that unfolded on the battlefield between the Kauravas and the Pandavas through the gifted ability to see happenings there without being physically present during the war.
His narration of Lord Krishna’s message to Arjuna, popularly known as the Bhagavad Gita was unbiased and an eye-opener to the King. He never added spicy words to please the King. He prompted the King to do something in favour of the rivals.
Sanjaya was mostly known for reciting the conversations of Lord Krishna and Arjuna before the commencement of the war. With the majestic visual powers granted to him by Sri Vedavyasa, he could narrate all incidents that took place in the war from the first to the death of Duryodhana.
He was not affected by the unfortunate incidents that unfolded in the war such as the death of Bhisma, Drona, Karna and other mighty warriors on the side of the Kauravas. He was nonchalant with the victories and the defeats in the war.
Krishna and Arjuna at Kurukshetra, 18th–19th-century painting (From Wikipedia)
Several incidents unfolded in the Mahabharata when his master, Dhrutarashtra used his services several times. In several ‘parvas,’ the noble deeds of Sanjaya were narrated which exponentially depict his honourable character and his dutiful devotion to his King.
In Udyoga and Vana Parvas
There was a narration in the Udyoga Parva. When the Pandavas were defeated in the game of dice and sent to the forest, Dhrutarashtra sent Sanjaya to the Pandavas to appease them from restraining from war as the king knew the fighting spirit of the Pandavas in the battle. He tried to explain to Yudhishthira the desire of the king not to have battle but peace between the brothers. After his return, he explained to him that the Pandavas were already engaged in preparations for the war.
In the Vana Parva, there was another story when Dhrutarashtra sent Sanjaya to bring back Vidura who left the king and assembled with the Pandavas in the Kamyaka forest, because of some difference of opinion on the punishment given to the Pandavas in sending them to the forest. He was successfully consoled, advised and brought him back to the fort.
In the Udyog Parva, there was a reference that he advised the king to control his son, Dhuryodhana as he committed many misdeeds with his ego which would bring doomsday to the Kingdom of the Kauravas.
Even in his final days, Sanjaya did not leave the king alone. He went to the forest with the king and his wife. His end came dramatically. When the king, his wife and Kunti were walking in the forest, they were engulfed by a huge forest fire. Even though the king asked him to run away and save his life, he was not inclined to leave the king.
Sanjaya – Good Narrator
Sanjaya was entrusted with narrating the incidents that unfolded in the war and while narrating so he never popped up his opinion until the last chapter of the great Bhagawad Gita (The Gita, Ch.18, Slokas 74 to 78.) He predicted with certainty and said to the King the outcome of the war even before its commencement.
Yatra yogeshvarah Krishno yatra Partho dhanur-dharah Tatra shrir vijayo bhutir dhruva nitir matir mama ||
Wherever there is Lord Krishna and Arjuna, there shall be unending opulence, victory, prosperity and righteousness.
Good Listener
With his blessed powers, he listened to the conversation of Lord Krishna and Arjuna and meticulously narrated it to the King. As a narrator, he never expressed his opinion or his thoughts on the subject, a great quality a listener should have while narrating the incidents to others.
Good Communicator
The role of a communicator is to communicate what exactly he heard, saw or visualised and communicate without adding his opinions, his commentaries or even his perceptions. Sanjaya never showed his personal feelings when the mighty warriors died on either side of the battle.
He did not express any anguish when he narrated the death of Duryodhana even though it was the most unpleasant incident for the King.
Gratitude towards his ‘Guru’
When there were a host of advisors and ministers to the King, Veda Vyasa had chosen Sanjaya to narrate what was happening in the war because he knew that he was impartial, truthful and virtuous. He expressed gratitude to his ‘guru’ in the 75th sloka in the 18th chapter.
Sanjaya came from a family of charioteers, rose to the position of being a personal advisor to the King, blessed with the visual merits of none other than the sage Veda Vyasa. ‘Sanjaya vuvacha’ is a popular expression in the Bhagavad Gita.
The story of Sanjaya brings us several life skilled lessons. His way of communication, his method of narration and his duty to his King are exemplary. Salutations to Sanjaya, the Man with a Divine Vision.
The Mahabharatam is the largest and most unique epic of our land. It is a narrative of Bharata Vamsha, the clan of Kings and warriors belonging to one family. It is a very comprehensive and exhaustive epic of all times.
It is wrongly construed as mythology, while it is the History of Bharata Varsha, our great and ancient land, made into a colorful heroic legend of cousins – Kauravas 100 in number and 5 Pandavas.
The Mahabharata is divided into 18 books called Parvas. A Parva is a stage of a certain story. This epic is regarded as Itihasa, what we call History in modern terms.
This great epic is the sourcebook of Indian thought, philosophy, and human psychology of our ancient land. The celebrated text of our country- Bhagavadgita is a part of Mahabharata. It is a storehouse of polity, social life, and many other aspects of ancient India.
Here we will discuss all the parvas for a glance. So, Let us start.
PC – Copied from Saptagiri monthly Magazine (TTD)
Adi Parva
describes the rule of King Shantanu of Bharata Vamsha, followed by the vow taken by Bhishma, his son not to get married to safeguard the clan. Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura are born. Dhritarastra is born blind, Pandu with a strange disease, and Vidura is the son of a servant maid, but highly wise and sober.
Dhritarastra is married to Gandhari, Pandu to Pritha (Kunti). They grow up together under the supervision of Bhishma, the elder of the family.
While Dhritarastra begets 100 sons and a daughter, Pandu has 5 sons. The boys get trained in archery, warfare, and public administration by great teachers like Drona and Kripa. They compete with each other and more often Pandavas excel against the sons of Dhritarastra. This is the beginning of sibling rivalry among them.
Pandu dies soon and his sons grow up as dependents on their uncle. Sons of Pandu show their excellence as warriors, killing Hidimba, Baka, and others who confronted them and troubled the people of their region.
After the death of Pandu, they are sent away to Khandava, with a plan to get them killed, but they come out of danger. They even try to burn Panadava princes alive by putting them into a house of lac. However, they come out of this danger and wander incognito. Arjuna is married to Krishna’s sister Subhadra.
Draupadi with her five husbands – the Pandavas. The central figure is Yudhishthira; the two on the bottom are Bhima and Arjuna. Nakula and Sahadeva, the twins, are standing. Painting by Raja Ravi Varma, c. 1900.
Sabha Parva
Divine Sculptor Maya built a magnificent palace for the King, Yudhistira, the eldest among Pandavas who performs Rajasuya Yaga. Among the invitees, Jarasandha, another competitor of Kurus is killed while his friend Shishupala is a friend of Duryodhana, the eldest among Kauravas.
In this magnificent palace, Duryodhana slips down making women laugh, prompting him to pull Pandavas to a game of dice, with the cunning help of Shakuni, brother of Gandhari. The Pandavas are invited to a game of dice and get defeated by deceit leading to the disrobing of Draupadi.
The Pandavas get defeated in a second game too, making them helpless and accept Duryodhana’s condition to leave the palace and go on an exile of 12 years to a forest, and 1 year in cognito, failing which they ought to repeat this! Very strange, but this was the condition accepted with helplessness by elders- Bhishma, Vidura, Kripa, and others out of the capital city of Indraprastha, by jealous and arrogant Duryodhana, and his blind father, Dhritarastra.
Aranya Parva
After getting defeated in the game of dice, they get into a forest as per the condition as losers. Here, Bhagavan Krishna, son of Pandavas’ maternal aunt Kunti arrives. During their tenure of punishment, Arjuna gets a divine arrow and bow from Bhagavan Shiva.
The Pandavas are entertained by several Rishis who visit them. We have many stories told to them like those of Sri Rama, Nala, Shibi, Savitri and other great people.
Virata Parva
After their exile in the forest, the Pandavas go incognito and enter the city of King Virata. They don disguise as Priest, cook, horse-breeders, dance teacher,s and Draupadi as the maid of the Queen. Here again, some evil-doers like Kichaka are killed.
Arjuna gets his son Abhimanyu married to the daughter of Virata, Uttara.
Udyog Parva
The Pandavas get ready for the ensuing inevitable war with Duryodhana and the Kaurava army. Duryodhana meets Krishna asking him to help him with his army. Krishna tries for arbitration to stop war and bloodshed, but Duryodhana is adamant. War becomes inevitable.
Commanders of each side are decided and war is to begin with Bhishma leading the Kaurava army.
Bhishma Parva
This is the beginning of the war, Arjuna feels unhappy to kill cousins. Hence, Bhagavan Krishna fills confidence in him through his Song Divine- Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Arjuna wakes up to action and faces the army. Deathless Bhishma tells him how to stop him from participating in the war with eunuch Shikhandi. Bhishma sheds his arrows and reclines on a bed of arrows. He gracefully ends himself at the beginning of Uttarayana of Sun.
PC – Copied from Saptagiri monthly Magazine (TTD)
Drona Parva
Drona takes over to lead the Kaurava army. Abhimanyu, the young son of Arjuna – Subhadra is sent into war and gets killed. Ghatotkacha, Saindhava get killed. Ashwathama gets furious after death of his father Drona and kills sons of the Pandavas in army camp at night when they were sleeping.
Karna Parva
Karna, whom Kunti conceived before her marriage is now the leader of the Kaurava army. He gets Shalya, as a charioteer to fight against Arjuna in an important battle. Shalya helps Arjuna, by refusing to lift the chariot out of the mud and Karna is killed, even Dusshasana gets killed by Bhima.
Shalya Parva
Shalya, brother of Pandu’s wife Madri takes over the 9th-day battle, on Kaurava’s side. Duryodhana gets defeated by Bhima by conceit. He immerses himself in water and Bhima tempts him to fight. Both fight and Duryodhana gets killed by Bhima.
Sauptika Parva
After the death of Duryodhana, Drona’s son Ashwathama takes over to lead the army. He is out on a killing spree, killing several kings except Krishna, who did not fight and Pandavas. Arjuna takes out the gem on his head making him weak, and insulted Ashwathama goes to penance.
Stree Parva
Dhritarashtra is severely shocked by the death of all his sons. His brother Vidura tries to console the blind king. All the warrior women have lost their husbands, and some self-immolate themselves. Angry Gandhari curses Sri Krishna, that like her family, his family of Yadavas gets destroyed by a civil war, which happens later.
Shanti Parva
The Pandavas have to take over the rule of the kingdom, but Yudhistira is reluctant after losing his kin. Bhishma on his bed of arrows teaches him Rajadharma, to be followed under any situation, which he is bound to follow.
Anushasana Parva
Bhishma, the grandsire leaves his body by his own will. Krishna consoles his mother, Ganga.
Ashwamedhika Parva
Yudhistira is sorry about killing the Kauravas, but is made to rule the kingdom. But his rule is ideal for people to have peace and prosperity. Pareekshit is born to Uttara. The Pandavas perform horse sacrifice.
Ashrama vasika Parva
Yudhistira rules Hastinavati for 15 years. Meanwhile, King Dhritarastra decides to go for penance with his wife. Kunti and Vidura join them. The Pandavas meet them in the forest to seek blessings. The royal couple, Kunti, and others get killed in a wildfire in the forest.
Mousala Parva
A civil war among Krishna’s family begins where all the Yadavas get killed. Bhagavan Krishna decides to leave human form, on the pretext of hitting by a hunter’s arrow. His wives and remaining Yadavas enter fire.
Mahaprasthana Parva
Yudhistira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva decide to end their human forms, after installing Yuyutsu in Kaurava side, and Pareekshit on the Pandava regions as Kings to rule. The Pandavas shed their forms one after the other in a move to reach heaven.
Svargarohana Parva
Yudhistira reaches heaven to find Duryodhana already there, by waging a heroic war. Yudhistira had to see Naraka, the hell for his mistakes small they might be. Yudhistira and brothers enter into the divine forms of Yama, Vayu, Indra, and Ashwinis. Here ends the story of the Mahabharatam.
Final Word
Mahabharata is unique in many aspects. It has Polity, Ethics, a Virtuous lifestyle, nobility, and finally victory to only Dharma- the righteous conduct. There is a saying that there is nothing that the great Epic has not touched.
Pandavas represent the right conduct, and Kauravas are the opposite of this. Krishna, the Master of the Universe helped Pandavas, as they had complete, unquestioned Devotion and Faith in Him.
Future poets of India, owe very much to this great Epic in its content and message. It is like rain, which always nurtures trees and living beings.
Hence, the story of Mahabharata, the sourcebook for future generations, has ever relevant message of truth, steadfastness, valor, fighting for a right cause, and all essential traits of mankind of all times.
