::I have seen their entries in the Illustrated Encyclopedia, but I am not sure a parallel format is appropriate for Wikipedia. I took this from Wikipedia:Notability (people)#People notable for only one event: 

 :::When an individual is significant for his or her role in a single event, it may be unclear whether an article should be written about the individual, the event or both. In considering whether or not to create separate articles, the degree of significance of the event itself and the degree of significance of the individual's role within it should be considered. The general rule in many cases is to cover the event, not the person. However, as both the event and the individual's role grow larger, separate articles become justified.[16] 

 :::If the event is highly significant, and the individual's role within it is a large one, a separate article is generally appropriate. The assassins of major political leaders, such as Gavrilo Princip, fit into this category, as indicated by the large coverage of the event in reliable sources that devotes significant attention to the individual's role. 

 :::When the role played by an individual in the event is less significant, an independent article may not be needed, and a redirect is appropriate. For example, George Holliday, who videotaped the Rodney King beating, redirects to Rodney King. On the other hand, if an event is of sufficient importance, even relatively minor participants may require their own articles, for example Howard Brennan, a witness to the JFK assassination. 

 ::I can see where you're coming from and I appreciate what you're saying. At the same time, I do on some level think a single article would portray the Mahabharata more cohesively, especially for people not already familiar with the text.