'The Mahābhārata', one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, is an epic poem that narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pāṇḍava princes and their successors. It also includes philosophical and devotional material, and contains notable stories such as the Bhagavad Gita and the story of Shakuntala. Its authorship is attributed to Vyāsa, and while the bulk of the text was probably compiled between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE, the text reached its final form by the early Gupta period. The Mahābhārata is the longest epic poem ever written, with over 1.8 million words and has been compared in importance to the works of Homer, Greek drama, and Shakespeare.

"The Mahabharata Vana Parva, Part 1" is a portion of the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic written by the mythical sage and author Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. This epic, one of the world's longest and revered works, is said to have been penned over several centuries through multiple authors, but Vyasa is usually seen as its compiler and narrator. The Vana Parva, or "Book of the Forest," constitutes a single of the Mahabharata's eighteen parvas (books). Part 1 of the Vana Parva mainly deals with the exile of the Pandavas, the main protagonists of the Mahabharata. The Pandavas are exiled to the wilderness for thirteen years after losing their kingdom in a dice game. During this time, the epic explains their trials, difficulties, and adventures. Part 1 contains multiple events, including the narrative of the sage Durvasa's visit to the Pandavas, the story of the Yaksha and Yudhishthira's response, and the description of Arjuna's mission to collect celestial weapons. These episodes are not only entertaining, but they additionally provide deep philosophical and moral lessons.