The Mahabharata of Veda Vyasa is one of the greatest war epics in the world after Iliad and Odyssey. Mahabharata is the story of the feud between two clans – Kaurava and Pandava. This English translation was originally published by Pratap Chandra Roy, a Calcutta-based bookseller, who owned a publishing house and printing press from 1883 to 1896. The fourteen parvas were published by Pratap Chandra Roy, and the last four parvas by his widow Sundari Bala Roy. The English version of the Sanskrit epic was composed at the behest of Dr Reynold Rost of the India Office Library, who was in dire need of an authentic and complete?English?version?of?the?original?text. The eleventh volume deals with the second part of Anusasana Parva. It covers the aspect of free will, destiny, the theory of compassion, and non-violence. The duties and rights of women are also part of this parva, though it is a contested issue owing to inconsistencies in verses. Various forms of marriage, including gandharva, are covered. However, the most fascinating part of this parva is a section on Vaishnavism and Shaivism, which include praises for Mahadeva-Uma and Vishnu- Lakshmi?along?with?the?recitation?of?1?names?of?Vishnu. About the Author Kisari Mohan Ganguli was an English translator. He was the first to translate the Mahabharata into English. He was awarded the first Hon­orary Literary Person and Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire-Companion?(CIE)?by?the?British?Crown?for?his?great?works. \n