sign in sign up
<<
Home , Kaurava, Kiratarjuniya, Sauptika Parva, Vana Parva

BHARATA () 121 (MAHABHARATA)

the world's epics is so big as Mahabharata. In size the (7) Kama . (=The third generalissimo). Mahabharata is double that of Homer's Iliad and This Parva deals with the war under the command of Odyssey put together. The following poem about it is Kama. Kama fell in the end at the hands of . worth mentioning now : (8) Salya Parva. (Salya = The fourth and last of the Yatha samudro bhagavan Generalissimos). When Kama fell Salya took over Yatha ca himavan girih / charge of the army. As the war was coming to Khyatavubhau ratnanidhi an end most of the big warriors of the Kaurava army Tatha bharatamucyate // were killed. In the end Bhlma and met Mahabharata is not a mere epic. It is a whole literature in a grim fight with maces in which Duryodhana was in itself containing a philosophy which has been an killed. This Parva deals with the final stage of the unfailing and perennial source of spiritual strength to battle. India. all it for its the the people of Above has core (10) . (Sauptika=pertaining to sleep). Gita which is perhaps the noblest of scriptures. This Parva tells us the tragic story of how Kfpacarya, The Mahabharata comprises eighteen books, each book Krtavarma and Asvatthama. who were the only three are being called a Parva. There 2109 chapters in it, the left with Duryodhana after the great battle went into chapters differing in size. Besides, there is an annexe the camp of the at night and killed all the called which deals with the life and history brave warriors of the army, excepting the of Sri Krsna. Pandavas, who were sleeping in their camp unaware of of are 2) Contents. The contents each Parva succinctly the foul play lying ahead. given below: The Parvas are so named as to give a (11) Stri Parva. (Stri =woman) . This Parva deals with hint of their central theme. the great lamentation in the battlefield, after the war, (1) Adi Parva. (Adi= beginning) . and Dhrta- of Gandharl and other women. rastra, king of the Candra dynasty, are . Bhisma (12) Sdnti Parva. Yudhisthira was crowned king and brought them up. Dhrtarastra was born blind and he even at that time Bhisma was lying on his bed of arrows got a hundred children of his wife Gandharl. They awaiting death. Before taking up his duties of the state were called the . Pandu had two wives Yudhisthira went to where the grandsire lay dying and and and got of them five sons called the took his blessing and instruction in dharma. This Pandavas headed by the eldest Yudhisthira. instruction of Bhlsmacarya to King Yudhisthira of the

= . (2) Sabha Parva (Sabha court) The Pandavas and three dharmas, Rajadharma, Apaddharma and Moksa- Kauravas lived together in the court at Hastinapura. dharma is the famous fSanti Parva. There, the Kauravas entered into a game of dice with (13) AnuSasana Parva. (AnuSasana = Instruction). Yudhisthira and through the deceitful tactics engineer- Bhisma still on his death-bed continues his instructions ed by the keen-witted Sakuni, Yudhisthira was defeated on several topics, like duty, freedom and fasting, giving and he lost everything he possessed. The Pandavas entertaining stories to illustrate the essence of his teach- were then compelled to go into exile to the forests for ing. This Parva is devoted to this. twelve years and spend another year after that incog- (14) ASvamedhika Parva. (Asvamedha = yaga conduct- nito. If they were found out during that period of ed by emperors) . This Parva deals with the yaga incognito they were to go into exile for another term conducted by Yudhisthira when he became the empe- of twelve years. The Pandavas accompanied by Pancall ror of Bharata. left for the forests. (15) Aframavasika Parva. (A$ramavasa = life in a her- (3) (Vana= forest). This is one of the mitage) . Dhrtarastra, the blind and his wife Gandharl longest of Parvas and describes the life of the Pandavas accompanied by KuntI left for the forests and lived in the forest Kamyaka. The well known stories ' there for two years in a hermitage. One day the forest Carita' and 'Kiratarjuniya' are told in this Parva'. caught fire and the three without trying to escape sat = in (4) Parva. (Virata name of a King) . The Pandav- on the ground facing eastwards yoga posture and as after completing their term of exile in the forests spent calmly gave up themselves to the flames. This is dealt the year of their life in incognito at the court of King with in this Parva. = Virata. Many wonderful events took place during their (16) Mausala Parva. (Mausala Mace). This Parva stay there and this Parva deals in detail about gives the story of how the Yadavas fought against each them. other with maces and were destroyed and how = (5) B hifma Parva (Bhisma The first Generalissimo of Dvaraka sank down into the ocean. It describes the the Kauravas). The great Mahabharata war was fought death of Sri Krsna and also. in the vast expanse of Kuruksetra lying to the north- (17) Mahaprasthanika Parva. (Mahaprasthana=Death) . west of Delhi. Bhisma was the first generalissimo of the Dharmaputra entrusts his kingdom to his successor and Kauravas and Dhrstadyumna of the Pandavas. alongwith his four brothers and wife Panca.ll sets out describes the events of the battle classifying it accord- on a long journey to Mahameru never to return. This ing to the generalissimos of the Kaurava army giving journey to death is detailed in this Parva.

the four a 1 Parva. = . This Parva generalissimos Parva each. Bhisma fought ( 8) Svargarohana (Svarga Heaven) for ten days and was struck down on the tenth day by describes the entry of the Pandavas and their relatives an arrow from Arjuna. into Svarga, heaven. = Most of the verses in the (6) Parva ( Drona The second Generalissimo). 3) Mode of Narration. When Bhisma fell Drona took charge as the supreme Mahabharata are in the Anustup metre. At certain commander. This Parva deals with the fight under his places other metres also have been used. There are command. Drona was killed in the end by prose pieces also in it. There are twenty notable pieces, dyumna. three in Adi Parva, seven in Vana Parva, seven in Santi