After the disappearance of the Kauravas and Pandavas, sage Vyasa entered into meditation. The entire story of the Mahabharata was reflected in the mirror of his mind. Wanting to translate the story into a great poem, he requested Brahma to suggest a suitable person who could write the story on his dictation. Brahma suggested Ganapati. Then, Vyasa thought about Ganapati and Ganapati appeared before the sage.

Ganapati stipulated a condition that he would write down the poem, provided that Vyasa dictated in such a manner that Ganapati had not to lay down his pen even once before the epic was complete. Vyasa stipulated a counter condition that when Vyasa dictated, Ganapati Should not write the matter without first understanding the composition. The Mahabharata was completed within three years.