In Hindu mythology, Vyasa was the grandfather of both the warring parties of the Mahabharata, the Kauravas and the Pandavas. He is also the narrator of the story, who told it to the God Ganesha, who wrote it down.
Vyasa was the son of Satyavati, a ferryman's daughter, and the wandering sage Parashara. He was born on an island in the River Yamuna. He was the father of the princes Dhritarashtra and Pandu, by Ambika and Ambalika, the wives of King Vichitravirya after Vichitravirya's death. He had a third son, Vidura, by a serving maid.
His names include Krishna Dvaipayana (the dark one born on an island), and Vedavyasa (the wise Vyasa). His name is shortened to 'Vyas' in modern Hindi.
According to some accounts he is supposed to have compiled the Vedic scriptures. His knowledge was supposed to be unique and whatever he knew, could only be partially learnt by anyone else: whether by meditation, study of the vedas, fasting, self improvement. It was Vyasa who had split the Veda into four parts. He is deemed to be the ideal Brahmarishi, omniscient, truthful, purest of the pure and possessor of knowledge of the essence of Brahma.
