The Mahâbhârata and the Râmâyana, two examples of the great Indian and South Asian epics, are founding texts of Indian literature and culture. They are renowned for their rich narrative, moral teachings and philosophical depth. These epics were first passed down through oral tradition for centuries before being transcribed into written form, and they also inspired an infinite number of adaptations, interpretations and translations in various cultures and languages. French travelers, administrators, missionaries and scholars in India were among those who sought out and collected Indian epic manuscripts. Guided by its obsession with overcoming British competition, France also translated Indian epics into French. One example is Abbé Parraud's 1787 retranslation of Charles Wilkins' English translation of the Baghavad-Gita.