definition of Mahabharata by The Free Dictionary

.

Ma·ha·bha·ra·ta

(mä′hə-bä′rə-tə)n.

A Sanskrit epic principally concerning the dynastic struggle and civil war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas in the kingdom of Kurukshetra about the 9th century bc, and containing the text of the Bhagavad-Gita, numerous subplots, and interpolations on theology, morals, and statecraft.

[Sanskrit

Mahābhāratam

,

great (telling) of the Bharatas

:

mahā-

,

great

; see

meg-

in

Indo-European roots

+

Bhāratam

,

of the Bharatas, descendants of the legendary Indian king Bharata

.]

Mahabharata

(məˌhɑːˈbɑːrətə) ,

Mahabharatam

or

Mahabharatum

n

(Other Non-Christian Religious Writings) an epic Sanskrit poem of India, dealing chiefly with the struggle between two rival families. It contains many separate episodes, the most notable of which is the Bhagavad-Gita

[Sanskrit, from mahā great + bhārata story]

Ma•ha•bha•ra•ta

(məˈhɑˈbɑr ə tə)

n.

an epic poem of India that includes the Bhagavad-Gita.

[< Skt mahābhārata great (mahat) work relating the story of the descendants of Bharata]

Mahabharata

An ancient Sanskrit epic story of battle between Pandavas and the Kauravas.

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Noun

1.

Mahabharata – (Hinduism) a sacred epic Sanskrit poem of India dealing in many episodes with the struggle between two rival familiesHindooism , Hinduism – a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils Bhagavadgita , Bhagavad-Gita , Gita – (Hinduism) the sacred `song of God’ composed about 200 BC and incorporated into the Mahabharata (a Sanskrit epic); contains a discussion between Krishna and the Indian hero Arjuna on human nature and the purpose of life

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