The objective of Team V.S. Sukthankar was to prepare a critical edition of the Mahabharata.

The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana. It is a sprawling epic that narrates the story of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and Pandava princes. The Mahabharata consists of over 200,000 verses and is considered a treasure trove of ancient Indian culture, philosophy, and wisdom.

Preparing a critical edition of a text involves examining various manuscripts and versions of the text to establish the most authentic and accurate version. This process requires meticulous research, comparison, and analysis of different manuscripts, commentaries, and translations.

Team V.S. Sukthankar, named after its leader Vishnu Sitaram Sukthankar, was a group of scholars who dedicated themselves to the task of preparing a critical edition of the Mahabharata. Sukthankar was a renowned Indologist and Sanskrit scholar who had previously worked on the critical edition of the Rigveda.

The objective of preparing a critical edition of the Mahabharata was to present a scholarly and reliable version of the epic that would serve as a foundation for further research and study. By analyzing different manuscripts and textual variations, the team aimed to reconstruct the most authentic and original form of the Mahabharata.

This critical edition would provide scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts with a reliable source for the study of the epic, ensuring that the nuances and complexities of the text are accurately preserved. It would also help in understanding the historical and cultural context of ancient India, as well as the various philosophical and moral teachings embedded within the epic.

Through their meticulous efforts, Team V.S. Sukthankar contributed significantly to the field of Indology and Sanskrit studies by providing a critical edition of the Mahabharata that continues to be widely referenced and studied today. Their work has helped in deepening our understanding of ancient Indian literature, culture, and thought.