The Mahabharata" is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. It is of immense importance to the culture of the Indian subcontinent & is a major text of Hinduism. Its discussion of human goals (artha or purpose kama or pleasure dharma or duty & moksha or liberation) takes place in a long-standing tradition attempting to explain the relationship of the individual to society & the world (the nature of the ' Self') & the workings of karma."