The Mahabharata · महाभारत
Vyasa’s epic, eighteen parvas, about one hundred thousand shlokas. The vastest work in the literature of the world.
The chapters below currently open in the original Hindi; the full English translation is in progress.
यन्न भारते तन्न भारते, that is, what is not in the Mahabharata is nowhere in Bharata either. Dharma, artha, kama, and moksha, all four aims of life; statecraft, war-craft, house-craft; bhakti (devotion), knowledge, and karma, every path of practice; all of it is held in this one text.
Introduction
The Mahabharata’s author is Maharshi Vyasa, whose other name is Krishna Dvaipayana. Great-grandfather of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Vyasa set down the history of his own descendants. And he did not merely set it down: he had Ganesha ji write it, who took up the pen on one condition, Vyasa ji, you will not pause, and I will not pause. Vyasa laid his own condition in return, very well, sir, but write each shloka only after you have understood its meaning. So this astonishing text was born.
The Mahabharata is not the story of one war alone. It gathers in the many generations before the eighteen days of Kurukshetra, and the consequences after. Along the way come hundreds of side-stories, teachings, stotras (hymns), and philosophical dialogues. The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita too is part of it, in the middle of the Bhishma Parva.
The text is divided into eighteen parvas (books). Here Vyasa’s story is told in forty-one chapters, in one continuous flow, in Hindi. Under each parva, its chapters are given in order.
Eighteen parvas, forty-one chapters
1. Adi Parva
The beginning. The origin of the Kuru line, King Shantanu, Ganga, Bhishma’s birth, Satyavati, Vyasa’s birth, Dhritarashtra and Pandu, Durvasa’s boon to Kunti, the birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas, Dronacharya’s training, Ekalavya, the house of lac, the slaying of Bakasura, Draupadi’s svayamvara, the burning of Khandava. The foundation is laid here.
- Chapter 1 · Naimisharanya, and Janamejaya’s snake-rite (the frame), Astika
- Chapter 2 · Shantanu, Ganga, Bhishma, and Bhishma’s vow
- Chapter 3 · Satyavati, niyoga, the births of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura
- Chapter 4 · The birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas, Drona and Kripa, training in arms, Ekalavya
- Chapter 5 · The arena, and Karna’s entrance
- Chapter 6 · The house of lac, Hidimba and Baka
- Chapter 7 · Draupadi’s svayamvara
- Chapter 8 · The division of the kingdom, Indraprastha, the burning of Khandava
2. Sabha Parva
The Pandavas’ royal court at Indraprastha, the wondrous hall built by Maya, Yudhishthira’s rajasuya yajna, the slaying of Shishupala, the game of dice, the disrobing of Draupadi, and the sentence of the Pandavas’ thirteen-year exile.
3. Vana Parva (Aranyaka Parva)
The Pandavas’ twelve years in the forest. The story of Nala and Damayanti, the Rama story (told by Markandeya), Savitri and Satyavan, the yaksha’s questions, Arjuna gathering the divine weapons, the ground laid for Kichaka’s slaying. Countless side-stories along the way.
4. Virata Parva
The year in hiding. The Pandavas in disguise in Virata’s city, Yudhishthira as “Kanka,” Bhima as “Ballava,” Arjuna as “Brihannala” (a dancer), Nakula and Sahadeva as attendants, Draupadi as “Sairandhri.” The slaying of Kichaka. The stage set for Uttara and Abhimanyu’s wedding.
5. Udyoga Parva
Preparations for war. Shri Krishna going to Hastinapura as envoy of peace, Duryodhana’s refusal, the Vidura Niti, the Sanatsujata dialogue. Both armies gathering at Kurukshetra. Shalya’s journey. The Sanjaya dialogue.
6. Bhishma Parva
The first phase of the war, the ten days of Bhishma’s command. The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita (chapters 23-40), Krishna’s teaching to Arjuna. Bhishma’s fall through Shikhandi, and his bed of arrows. [The Gita is already published]
7. Drona Parva
The five days of Dronacharya’s command. The chakravyuha, the slaying of Abhimanyu, the vow to kill Jayadratha, the slaying of Ghatotkacha, and at the end, Drona laying down his weapons and his death, brought on by Yudhishthira’s half-truth, “Ashvatthama hatah.”
8. Karna Parva
The two days of Karna’s command. Shalya as Karna’s charioteer, the final duel of Karna and Arjuna, the chariot wheel sinking into the earth, the slaying of Karna.
9. Shalya Parva
Shalya’s brief command, and his death. Duryodhana hiding in the lake, the mace duel with Bhima, Duryodhana’s thigh broken. The end of the Kaurava army.
10. Sauptika Parva
The night massacre. Ashvatthama, Kripacharya, and Kritavarma attacking the sleeping Pandava camp, the slaughter of Draupadi’s five sons. Ashvatthama’s brahmastra, and at the end, Krishna protecting Parikshit, Abhimanyu’s unborn child.
11. Stri Parva
The lament of the women. Gandhari’s grief for her sons, the queens’ wailing at the sight of husbands and sons on the battlefield. Gandhari’s curse on Krishna.
12. Shanti Parva
Lying on the bed of arrows, Bhishma gives Yudhishthira his vast teaching on the dharma of kings, dharma in calamity, and the dharma of liberation. The philosophical heart of the Mahabharata. The Vishnu Sahasranama is in this parva too. [The Vishnu Sahasranama is already published]
13. Anushasana Parva
Bhishma’s teaching continues. The dharma of giving, the dharma of women, the greatness of the tirthas, the praise of Shiva. At the end, Bhishma’s passing.
14. Ashvamedhika Parva
Yudhishthira’s ashvamedha yajna. Arjuna’s journey across the land with the sacrificial horse. The Anugita (the second dialogue of Krishna and Arjuna). The Manipura story.
15. Ashramavasika Parva
Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Kunti, and Vidura leaving for the forest, tapas in the forest, and at the end, their bodies given up to the forest fire.
16. Mausala Parva
The end of the Yadu line. The Yadavas’ quarrel among themselves, the fruit of Gandhari’s curse, Dwarka swallowed by the sea. Shri Krishna gives up the body.
17. Mahaprasthanika Parva
The Pandavas set out on the last journey. Walking toward the Himalayas, one by one they fall. Only Yudhishthira remains, and one dog.
18. Svargarohana Parva
Yudhishthira in heaven. First the bewilderment of seeing Duryodhana on a throne, then, after the vision of maya, the vision of dharma. The close of the Mahabharata.