The Mahabharata describes the epic conflict between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, two branches of a royal family, for the crown of the Hastinapura kingdom. The epic has a big cast of characters, including gods, kings, and warriors, and it tackles a broad variety of topics, including morality, duty, love, and conflict. The Mahabharata, which has been translated into many languages, was first written in Sanskrit between 400 BCE and 400 CE. One of the most popular English translations of the epic is that by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, which was initially published in the late 19th century. The translation by Ganguli is renowned for its accuracy to the original Sanskrit text as well as for being understandable to contemporary readers. It contains all of the epic’s key incidents as well as thorough explanations of the social, political, and cultural settings in which the narrative is set.