Mahabharata

The great battle at Kuruk¿etra is over and the surviving warriors gather around the fallen Bhi¿ma in order to draw upon his wisdom. They begin by asking about kingship and governance, before moving on to spiritual philosophy and the practices that lead to liberation.

This latter discussion forms the Mok¿a-dharma-parvan - part of the Santi-parvan of the Mahabharata. The subjects discussed are wide ranging but the principal focus is on renunciation of the world, the philosophy of Sa¿khya, early Vai¿¿ava theism, and probably the earliest teachings we have on the techniques of meditational yoga.