The ‘Mahabharata’ is one of the greatest marvels in the literature-of the world. Veda Vyasa was the sage who gave the world this storehouse of realism, wisdom, and compassion. He is also the author of the Brahma Sutras, and is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu himself.
Veda Vyasa was a genius by birth. He performed rigorous penance and practiced austerity in the Himalayas in order to realize the Supreme Truth that he explained in the Vedas and Upanishads. There is a very interesting event associated with the writing of the Mahabharata. Veda Vyasa needed to concentrate on the composing, and he needed someone to write it down as he recited the verses. It was Ganesha, who agreed to do so.
The Mahabharata is the longest epic in the world, longer than the Odyssey and Iliad put together! It is the narrative that contains all narratives. A verse from the epic reads, ‘What is found here may be found elsewhere. What is not found here will not be found elsewhere’. Is it any wonder that the Mahabharata- and Veda Vyasa – are considered to be immortal?