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Narration and Writing
Vyasa, the celebrated compiler of the Vedas, was the son of the great sage Parasara.
It was he who gave to the world the divine epic of the Mahabharata. Having
conceived the Mahabharata he thought of the means of giving the sacred story to the
world.
It was before the days of printing, when the memory of the learned was the sole
repository of books. Vyasa first taught the great epic to his son, the sage Suka. Later,
he expounded it to many other disciples. Were it not so, the book might have been
lost to future generations.
Janamejaya, the son of the great King Parikshit, conducted a great sacrifice in the
course of which Vaisampayana narrated the story at the request of the former.
Afterwards, this story, as told by Vaisampayana, was recited by Suta in the forest of
Naimisa to an assembly of sages under the lead of the Rishi Saunaka.
Suta addressed the ascetics "I had the good fortune to hear the story of the
Mahabharata composed by Vyasa to teach humanity dharma and the other ends of
life. I should like to narrate it to you."
Suta continued "I heard the main story of the Mahabharata and the episodic tales
contained therein told by Vaisampayana at the sacrifice conducted by King
Janamejaya. Afterwards, I made an extensive pilgrimage to various sacred places and
also visited the battlefield where the great battle described in the epic was fought. I
have now come here to meet you all." He then proceeded to tell the whole story of
the Mahabharata in the grand assembly.
Narrative Structure
The mahabharata's narrative technique matches its complexity and depth of
philosophy. The technique of narration is that of a story within a story. The main
account of the kuru dynasty begins after several small stories. The narration happens
at many levels. Vaismpayana narrates the tale to janmajeya at the snake ceremony.
Another sage who heard the story at the ceremony narrates it to the bhrigu
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