How is the term "itihasa" generally translated?

1) "Mythical legends"
2) "History"
3) "Religious scriptures"
4) "Ancient rituals"

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

2

Interestingly, the Mahabharata is referred to as an "itihasa" in early Sanskrit tradition. The term "itihasa" translates to "thus it was," and it is commonly rendered as "history." However, whether there was an actual war that inspired the epic remains uncertain. Some historians speculate that the narrative might have preserved the memory of a genuine conflict among kinfolk, while others argue that there is no additional supporting evidence of such a battle.