Maarg Manthan · Topic 9.2

The Two Epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata

Art & Culture › Language & Literature · Topic 9.2

The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are the two great epics of India, written in Sanskrit (Indo-Aryan, Indo-European family) and called Itihasa, with core versions composed between about 400 BCE and 400 CE. The Ramayana is attributed to Valmiki, called Adi Kavi, and has seven kandas with about 24,000 verses. The Mahabharata is attributed to Vyasa, has eighteen parvas and about 100,000 verses, and is the longest epic in the world. The Bhagavad Gita forms part of its Bhishma Parva. Both were retold in every regional language, from Kamban in Tamil to Tulsidas in Awadhi, and spread to Southeast Asia, where they shaped art and drama.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Language & Literature

At a Glance

Ramayana Valmiki, seven kandas, Adi Kavya
Mahabharata Vyasa, eighteen parvas, longest epic
Embedded text Bhagavad Gita in Bhishma Parva
Heritage Ramlila on UNESCO list, 2008
Reach Indian languages and Southeast Asia
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Language & Literature

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows Vedic literature and covers the epics as the second great pillar of Sanskrit literature, whose stories became the common cultural memory of India. Previous topic: vedangas-upanishads-puranas-smritis/" class="maargx-auto-link" data-preview="At a Glance Core corpus Four Vedas with Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads Revealed texts Shruti Remembered texts Smriti, Puranas, epics Support sciences Six…">Vedic Literature (Vedas, Vedangas, Upanishads, Puranas, Smritis). Next topic: Classical Language Status (criteria and list).

How Are the Two Epics Compared?

Point	Ramayana and Mahabharata
Author	Valmiki for the Ramayana; Vyasa for the Mahabharata
Size	About 24,000 verses and seven kandas; about 100,000 verses and eighteen parvas
Kandas of the Ramayana	Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Yuddha and Uttara
Earlier names	The Mahabharata is said to have grown from Jaya into Bharata and then Mahabharata
Theme	Ramayana: ideal kingship, family duty and exile. Mahabharata: dynastic war between Kauravas and Pandavas and the question of dharma
Style	The Ramayana is called Adi Kavya, the first poem, in anushtubh metre. The Mahabharata mixes narrative with law, politics and philosophy
Embedded works	The Bhagavad Gita, Vishnu Sahasranama and the Shanti and Anushasana Parvas in the Mahabharata; the Harivamsha is a supplement

How Did Regional Languages and Other Lands Retell Them?

Language or land	Retelling and author
Tamil	Kamban wrote the Ramavataram under the Cholas
Telugu	Andhra Mahabharatam by Nannaya, Tikkana and Errana; Ranganatha and Molla Ramayanas
Kannada	Pampa Bharata (Vikramarjuna Vijaya) by Adikavi Pampa
Malayalam	Adhyatma Ramayanam and Mahabharatam by Ezhuthachan
Bengali	Krittivasi Ramayan by Krittibas Ojha; Mahabharata by Kashiram Das
Odia and Assamese	Sarala Mahabharata by Sarala Das; Saptakanda Ramayana by Madhava Kandali
Awadhi	Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas
Persian	Razmnama, the Mahabharata translated under Akbar
Southeast Asia	Ramakien in Thailand, Kakawin Ramayana in Java, Reamker in Cambodia, Phra Lak Phra Lam in Laos

What Else Should You Remember?

Date: Scholars place the core of the epics between about 400 BCE and 400 CE. The dates and the single authorship are debated
Valmiki: Tradition says Valmiki composed the Ramayana after seeing a bird killed, and the grief became the first shloka. He is called Adi Kavi
Vyasa: Vyasa is called Krishna Dvaipayana and is also credited with arranging the Vedas. Ganesha is said to have written the verses
Bhagavad Gita: A dialogue of Krishna and Arjuna in eighteen chapters, forming chapters 25 to 42 of the Bhishma Parva
Critical edition: The Mahabharata critical edition was prepared at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, under V. S. Sukthankar
Ramlila: The Ramlila of Ramnagar and other places is the folk theatre of the Ramayana, inscribed on the UNESCO intangible heritage list in 2008
Jain and Buddhist versions: Vimalasuri wrote a Jain Ramayana called Paumachariya in Prakrit, and the Dasharatha Jataka gives a Buddhist version
Performing arts: Kathakali, Yakshagana, Chhau, Kathak, Pandvani and shadow puppets retell episodes of both epics
Folk forms: Pandvani of Chhattisgarh sings the Mahabharata, and Tolpava Koothu of Kerala uses leather puppets for the Ramayana
Sculpture and painting: Scenes appear in temples such as Prambanan in Java, Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Deogarh in Uttar Pradesh
Later versions: Tulsidas wrote the Ramcharitmanas in the sixteenth century, which made the Ramayana a household text across north India
Place in law: The Shanti Parva is a major source on rajadharma, the duties of a king
Cross links: Rama and Krishna stories also fed devotional worship, as in Nayanars Two streams Saguna and Nirguna Language Regional…">Bhakti Movement

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Author and structure: Valmiki with seven kandas, Vyasa with eighteen parvas
Regional versions: Match the poet with the language and the epic
Abroad: Ramakien, Kakawin and Reamker
Heritage: Ramlila on the UNESCO list
Common errors: giving Tulsidas the Sanskrit version or placing the Gita in the Shanti Parva

As an analytical point, the epics are living texts rather than fixed books. Each region and age retold them to its own values, which shows both the unity and the diversity of Indian culture, and the same stories continue as performance, art and cultural diplomacy with Southeast Asia.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Authors Frequently asked
Retellings Match the regional poet
Soft power Southeast Asia link

What Came Next?

Next the Manthan moves to the criteria and list of classical languages. Next topic: Classical Language Status (criteria and list).

Key People and Terms

Itihasa Epic history
Adi Kavya The first poem
Kanda Book of the Ramayana
Parva Book of the Mahabharata
Shloka Verse form
Ramlila Folk theatre of the Ramayana

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Adi Kavi: Valmiki; Ramayana has 7 kandas.
Mahabharata: Vyasa, 18 parvas, longest epic.
Gita lies in Bhishma Parva.
Ramcharitmanas: Tulsidas, Awadhi.
Ramlila: UNESCO 2008.

Do Not Confuse With

Valmiki Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas Sanskrit original versus Awadhi retelling
Kamban and Krittibas Tamil versus Bengali Ramayana poets
Kanda and Parva Divisions of the two epics

Memory Hook

Seven kandas for Rama, eighteen parvas for the Bharata war.

Mains Angle

Questions link epics to cultural unity and outreach. These points give a balanced view.

Unity in diversity Common stories in many languages
Cultural diplomacy Ramayana links with Southeast Asia
Continuity and change Folk and modern retellings

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“The epics are living traditions rather than fixed texts. Examine with examples.”

How to Answer

Core Two Sanskrit epics.
Retellings Regional and folk versions.
Abroad Southeast Asian forms.
Way Support performing traditions.

GS Relevance

Prelims: authors, structure, regional versions, spread abroad. GS Paper 1: Indian heritage and culture, literature, cultural links with Southeast Asia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the epics important for UPSC?

Prelims asks about authors, kandas and parvas, the position of the Gita, regional versions such as Kamban and Tulsidas, and the Ramlila heritage listing. Mains uses the epics for unity in diversity, cultural diplomacy with Southeast Asia and the continuity of folk traditions.

Who wrote the Ramayana and the Mahabharata?

The Ramayana is attributed to the sage Valmiki, who is called Adi Kavi, the first poet. The Mahabharata is attributed to Vyasa. Modern scholars treat both as works that grew over centuries through many hands, with their core taking shape between about 400 BCE and 400 CE.

How many kandas and parvas do the epics have?

The Ramayana has seven kandas: Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Yuddha and Uttara. The Mahabharata has eighteen parvas, beginning with the Adi Parva and ending with the Svargarohana Parva. The Bhagavad Gita lies within the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata.

Which regional poets retold the Ramayana?

Kamban wrote the Tamil Ramavataram, Tulsidas the Awadhi Ramcharitmanas, Krittibas Ojha the Bengali Krittivasi Ramayan, Ezhuthachan the Malayalam Adhyatma Ramayanam, and Madhava Kandali the Assamese Saptakanda Ramayana. Ranganatha and Molla wrote Telugu versions, which are regularly asked in matching questions.

Which countries have their own versions of the Ramayana?

Thailand has the Ramakien, Indonesia has the Kakawin Ramayana of Java, Cambodia has the Reamker, and Laos has Phra Lak Phra Lam. Scenes also appear in Prambanan and Angkor Wat, which shows the cultural links of India with Southeast Asia across centuries.

Is the Ramlila on the UNESCO heritage list?

Yes. The Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana, was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. It is staged across northern India, and the Ramlila of Ramnagar near Varanasi is among the best known.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Bhagavad Gita is a part of the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata.

True

It lies in that parva.

2 The Ramayana has eighteen parvas.

False

It has seven kandas.

3 Kamban wrote the Tamil Ramayana called Ramavataram.