Mahabharata for the Nawab

Prabhupada : Yes, there is a nice story in this connection. There was one Gopal Ban. So he was very cunning fellow, in the Muhammadan period in Bengal. So the Muhammadan Nawab asked him, "Gopal Ban, can you prepare a Mahabharata in my name?" "Oh, yes!" So, "I'll engage so many panditas, and they will make a Mahabharata, your activities, your glories, everything. So give me one hundred thousand rupees, just begin." He was taking money, taking money, "Yes, it is going on, going on." "Then when it will be published?" "Yes, just last few days more." 

"Now, sir, everything is prepared. So the one thing is, you have to give me information how many husbands you have got, your wife, huh? How many husbands your wife has got?" "That is very insulting. What, you nonsense! You take..." "No, that is the main feature of Mahabharata. Draupadi had five husbands, so how many husbands your wife has got? Tell me that." Then, "No, no, I don't want that. I am the only husband." "Then how can you write Mahabharata?" [laughter] "I don't want." "All right. If you want Mahabharatayou must tell how many your wife has got husbands." That he cannot say. So Mahabharata finished.