Question

“The critical edition of the \textit{Mahabharata is a valuable resource for scholars and students who are interested in the study of the epic.” Examine the statement.}

Answer 1

The Critical Edition of the \textit{Mahabharata}, compiled at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI), is a scholarly attempt to reconstruct the most authentic version of the text by comparing over 1,200 manuscripts in Sanskrit.
It removes later interpolations and inconsistencies, presenting a coherent base text that is closer to the original.
It serves as a benchmark for serious academic and literary studies of the epic.
Footnotes and annotations provide variant readings and interpretations, aiding researchers in comparative textual analysis.
It helps in distinguishing the core narrative from regional or sectarian additions. Thus, the Critical Edition is not just a text—it is a research tool that enhances understanding of ancient Indian society, literature, and philosophy.