--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana…" description: "\"“Both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana survive in several versions, the earliest of which are at least five hundred years later than the Vedas. Yet the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/john-keay-31557_hinduism_both-the-mahabharata-and-the-ramayana-su_1779504.jpg" --- # Both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana survive in several… ![“Both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana survive in several versions, the earliest of which are at least five hundred years later than the Vedas. Yet their core narratives seem to relate to events from a period prior to all but the Rig Veda.” quote by John Keay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/john-keay-31557_hinduism_both-the-mahabharata-and-the-ramayana-su_1779504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/john-keay-31557_hinduism_both-the-mahabharata-and-the-ramayana-su_1779504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/john-keay-31557_hinduism_both-the-mahabharata-and-the-ramayana-su_1779504.jpg) > ““Both the Mahabharata and the Ramayana survive in several versions, the earliest of which are at least five hundred years later than the Vedas. Yet their core narratives seem to relate to events from a period prior to all but the Rig Veda.”” [John Keay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mahabharata and Ramayana postdate Vedas but preserve older mythic memory. **In simple terms:** Epic stories are later but echo older events. Key Takeaway Explore ancient narratives for hidden history. Themes mythology history culture Mood analytical inquisitive Type historical literary When to use this quote - academic study - educational curricula - cultural festivals Key Concepts Oral tradition cultural memory Questions to Reflect On - What can these epics reveal about early societies? - How reliable are oral traditions? A Different Perspective Reliance on later texts may distort original context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hinduism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hinduism/) [Later Vedas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/later-vedas-1850177/) [Mahabharata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mahabharata/) [Mahabharata Ramayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mahabharata-ramayana-1850175/) [Ramayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ramayana/) [Ramayana Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ramayana-survive-1850176/) ## Related quotes > [“No text, being human creation, is free from flaws – it is the human mind that should be conscientious enough to accept their good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/no-text-being-human-creation-is-free-from-flaws-it-is-the-human-mind/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The 'Mahabharata' is a more complex and longer saga than the 'Ramayana,' which is like a fairy tale. 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