Answer: Collecting manuscripts from different regions was crucial because it revealed both the common core of the Mahabharata tradition and the rich regional variations. This geographical diversity showed how the epic was adapted and interpreted differently across various cultural contexts while maintaining certain universal elements. It helped scholars understand the complex process of textual transmission and cultural dialogue across the subcontinent.

Answer: The regional variations reflect the dynamic nature of early Indian society, showing how dominant Brahmanical traditions interacted with local ideas and practices. These variations indicate moments of both conflict and consensus between different social groups. They demonstrate that society was not uniform but characterized by diverse local traditions that influenced how texts were understood and transmitted, revealing the complex social processes that shaped early Indian civilization.

Answer: Initially, 19th and early 20th-century historians took Sanskrit texts at face value, assuming that prescribed norms were actually practiced. Later scholars began studying texts in other languages like Pali, Prakrit, and Tamil, which revealed that while Sanskrit normative texts were considered authoritative, they were also questioned, modified, and sometimes rejected by different communities. This led to a more nuanced understanding of how social norms operated in practice versus theory.

Answer: Scholars faced numerous challenges including: deciphering manuscripts written in various regional scripts, comparing thousands of textual variations, determining which versions were most authentic, documenting regional differences systematically, and managing a project that spanned 47 years with dozens of scholars. The sheer scale of variations meant that over half the final publication was devoted to footnotes and appendices documenting differences between manuscripts.