The contents of Mahabharata have been usually grouped by historians into two parts – narrative arid didactic. In the narrative part, there are stories. In the didactic part, there are suggestions regarding social rules and regulations.
This is not a very strict division. Even in the didactic portion, there are stories. In the same way, there are suggestions in the portion of stories. Whatever be the case, historians agree that Mahabharata is a dramatic and touching story. They feel that the didactic part was added to the Mahabharata during the post-Mauryan period.