There is no one person or group responsible for India's downfall after the Mahabharata. A number of factors contributed to the decline of the Indian subcontinent, including:
- The rise of regional powers: After the Mahabharata, the Indian subcontinent was divided into a number of smaller kingdoms. These kingdoms were often at war with each other, which weakened the subcontinent and made it vulnerable to foreign invasion.
- Foreign invasions: The Indian subcontinent was invaded by a number of foreign powers, including the Greeks, the Huns, and the Arabs. These invasions weakened the subcontinent and made it difficult to maintain political and economic stability.
- Climate change: The Indian subcontinent experienced a period of climate change after the Mahabharata. This climate change led to droughts and famines, which further weakened the subcontinent.
- Social and religious divisions: The Indian subcontinent was a diverse region with a variety of social and religious groups. These divisions made it difficult to unite the subcontinent and to maintain order.
These factors combined to weaken the Indian subcontinent and led to its eventual downfall. The Indian subcontinent was a powerful and prosperous region for much of its history, but it could not overcome the challenges that it faced after the Mahabharata.
It is important to note that there are different perspectives on the causes of the Indian subcontinent's downfall. Some historians argue that the subcontinent was simply too big and too diverse to be sustained for long, while others argue that the decline was caused by specific factors, such as foreign invasions or climate change.
Ultimately, the causes of the Indian subcontinent's downfall are complex and multifaceted. There is no single explanation that can account for the subcontinent's decline.
However, it is worth noting that the Mahabharata itself may have played a role in the subcontinent's downfall. The war described in the Mahabharata was a massive and destructive conflict that killed millions of people. The war also led to the destruction of many cities and towns. The aftermath of the war left the subcontinent in a weakened state, which made it more vulnerable to foreign invasion and internal conflict.
The Mahabharata is a complex and fascinating work of literature, but it is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of war. The war described in the Mahabharata had a devastating impact on the Indian subcontinent, and it is possible that the war contributed to the subcontinent's eventual downfall.
