The TV Series Mahabharat was a fixture on Sunday Morning televisions across India when it first broadcast on the state-owned television channel Doordarshan from 02-Oct-1988 through 24-Jun-1990. The 94-episode series was produced by acclaimed Hollywood producer B. R. Chopra and directed by his son Ravi Chopra. Rahi Masoom Raza (a person of the Islamic faith) composed the script and songs. The music director was Rajkamal and most of the songs were sung by veteran playback singer Mahendra Kapoor.
Title Song, Part 1
Atha shri Mahabharat katha
Mahabharat katha
Katha hai purusharth yeh ki
Swarth ki parmarth ki
Translation / meaning: “This is the story of Mahabharat. It’s a tale of honour, greed, the ultimate truth.”
Title Song, Part 2
Sarthi jis ke bane
ShriKrishna Bharat Parth ki
Translation / meaning: “This is the story of Lord Krishna who had become a charioteer (in the Kurukshetra battle) for Arjuna who is descendant of Bharat.”
Title Song, Part 3
Shabdh Dighoshit Hua Jab
Satya Sarthak Sarvatha..
Translation / meaning: “When the great words (Bhagavad Gita) were proclaimed, they showed the path (of righteousness) … the words signified truth that was fit and entire.”
Verse from the Bhagavad Gita (Gita 4-7)
Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata
Abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamy aham
Translation / meaning: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in righteousness, O Bharata, And a predominant rise of unrighteousness, then I manifest Myself”
Verse from the Bhagavad Gita (Gita 4-8)
Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskritam
Dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge
Translation / meaning: “To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, To re-establish the principles of Dharma (righteousness,) I will manifest myself era after era …”