Question

Which of the following is/are Vedic epic/s?
A) Mahabharata
B) Ramayana
C) Sangam Literature
D) Both A and B

Answer 1

Hint:
- It is known as the longest epic poem ever written.
- It is originally written in Sanskrit and later translated to different Indian languages.

Complete answer:
Mahabharata and Ramayana are both Vedic epics. These epics together form the Hindu Itihasa. The Ramayana is one of the longest written epics in world literature and Mahabharata is the longest epic poem known.

Now let us look into the given options:
Option A – The Mahabharata was written by Krishna Dvaipayana also known as Vyasa or Veda Vyasa. It narrates the struggle between the Kaurava and the Pandava princes and their successors. It tells us about the fate of the two groups of cousins in the Kurukshetra War.
Option B – The Ramayana was written by Maharishi Valmiki. It narrates the life of Lord Rama, who was a legendary prince from the city of Ayodhya in the kingdom of Kosala. The epic tells us about his fourteen yearlong exile in which he travels across the forests of the Indian Subcontinent with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana.
Option C – The Sangam Literature is an ancient Tamil literature and is also the earliest known literature from South India. It is believed that the era of the Sangam Literature spanned from 300 B.C. to 300 C.E. It contains 2,381 Tamil poems written by 473 known poets and 102 anonymous poets. It is not part of the Vedic literature.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (D) Both A and B.

Note:
- Apart from the Kurukshetra War, the Mahabharata also contains philosophical and devotional materials, such as discussions on the ‘goal of life’.
- The Hindu Holy Book, the Bhagavad Gita is also a part of the Mahabharata.
- Another part of the Mahabharata is the Vana Parva book, which tells the story Damayanti who was the daughter of Bhima and the princess of the Vidarbha Kingdom.