Veda Vyasa
Veda Vyāsa
Organiser of the four Vedas — author of the Mahabharata and Bhagavatam
Veda Vyasa — Krishna Dvaipayana — is the most prolific figure in all of Sanskrit literature. He classified the single Veda into four, composed the Mahabharata, the 18 Puranas, and the Brahma Sutras. He is considered a chiranjivi — an immortal who lives across all ages.
Key compositions
Organised the single primordial Veda into Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda and assigned each to a disciple.
The longest poem in human history. Contains the Bhagavad Gita as its philosophical heart.
Composed at the instruction of Narada as Vyasa's final and most complete work — the crown jewel of Puranic literature.
555 sutras systematising the teaching of the Upanishads. Commented upon by Shankara, Ramanuja, and Madhva.
A key verse
धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च मोक्षे च भरतर्षभ । यदिहास्ति तदन्यत्र यन्नेहास्ति न तत्क्वचित् ॥
Whatever is here regarding dharma, artha, kama, and moksha — that is found elsewhere too. What is not here, is nowhere.
Mahabharata — Vyasa on the scope of his own composition
Lineage & disciples
Lineage / Gotra
Son of Parashara and Satyavati · Parashara gotra
Notable disciples
Paila, Vaishampayana, Jaimini, Sumantu, Shuka