Parva | Sub-parva's | Adhyaaya's | Shlokas | Story covered in the Parva |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aadi | 18 | 218 | 9 984 | Some past stories,incarnation of Gods and Demons on the earth, the main story upto marriage of the Paandavas with Droupadi. Duration: many ages in total, upto about 30 to 40 years after birth of Paandavas |
Sabhaa | 9 | 72 | 4 311 | From Paandavas getting their share of kingdom and upto their going on exile after losing the game of dice. Duration: about 25 years. |
Aaaranya | 16 | 269 | 13 664 | The exile of the Paandavas in the forests and some incidents simultaneously taking place at home. Duration: 12 years |
Viraata | 4 | 67 | 3 500 | The incognito of the Paandavas and the strategies of Kouravas to trace them, Arjuna's victory over Kouravas. Duration: 1 year. |
Udyoga | 11 | 186 | 6 998 | The efforts and strategies of Paandavas and Kouravas for the coming war. Missions sent by either side. Duration: about 1 year. |
Bheeshma | 5 | 118 | 5 884 | Both armies getting ready for war, Arjuna's disgust,Krishna's teaching him, Bheeshma's valorous leadership in vain. Duration: 10 days. |
Drona | 8 | 170 | 10 919 | Continuation of war after Bheeshma's fall. Drona in command until he was killed. Duration: 5 days. |
Karna | 1 | 69 | 4 900 | War goes on under Karna's leadership after Drona's death . Karna too falls to Arjuna's arrows. Duration: 2 days. |
Shalya | 4 | 59 | 3 220 | The feeble hopes of the Kouravas held high for sometime by Shalya as the war-chief. Shalya, Shakuni and Duryodhana fall unvictorious. Duration: one day. |
Soupthika | 3 | 18 | 2 870 | Genocide of the sleeping enemy camp by Asvaththaama for as well Duryodhana's pleasure as his own revenge. Only seven, 5 Paandavas,Krishna and Saathyaki survived. Duration: one night. |
Sthree | 5 | 20 | 1 775 | Rituals done for the dead. Vailing of war-widows and other women folk for their beloved ones. Gaandhaari's curse to Krishna. Kunthi's revealing of Karna's being her first son. Yudhishthira's lamenting. Duration: about 2 days. |
Shaanthi | 4 | 339 | 14 525 | Coronation of Yudhishthira. His disgust. Bheeshma on the arrow-bed teaches him to console. Duration: a few weeks. Total duration of the story in Shhanthi and Aanushaasanika is about 2 months. |
Aanushaasanika | 2 | 155 | 12 000 | Bheeshma's counselling to Yudhishthira continues. Bheeshma passes away at his own will. Duration: a few weeks. Total duration of the story in Shhanthi and Aanushaasanika is about 2 months. |
Ashvamedha | 2 | 92 | 4 420 | Yudhishthira performs sacrifices to console himself and cleanse his soul from the sins of the war. His rule continues. Duration: about 30 years. Total duration of the story in Ashva- and Aashrama- is about 36 years. |
Aashramavaasa | 3 | 42 | 1 106 | Dhritharaashtra, Gaandhari,Kunthi and Vidura leave for the forests for penence and die there. Duration: about 5 years. Total duration of the story in Ashva- and Aashrama- is about 36 years. |
Mousala | 1 | 8 | 300 | Paandavas learn Krishna's passing away and Yaadavas' self destruction. Arjuna's inability in saving women and the aged of Yaadavas from attack of robbers in the way. Paandavas decide to leave this world.Duration: a few weeks. |
Mahaaprasthaanika | 1 | 3 | 120 | Coronation of Pareekshith, Arjuna's grandson. Paandavas' setting out on the Final Journey.Falling of Droupadi and other Paandavas midway. Gods testing Yudhishthira. Duration: a few months or years ,though some scholars say that it was about 26 years. |
Svargaarohana | 1 | 5 | 200 | Paandavas' journey to heaven. All meeting in heaven. Duration: Not clear according to human time measure, but it could be a few hours or so for the part that happened in the heaven,according to divine time measure. Back at Janamejaya's hall , conclusion of the epic by its narrator, Vyshampaayana. |
Total | 98 | 1 951 | 100696 | Note: the number shown may vary from tradition to tradition. This is only a guide-line. For example, some consider 4 parvas in Ashvamedha parva, but some count only 2 subparvas in that parva, taking Harivamsham and Bhavishya parva as another two, making the total to 100. |
Also, an appendix ( called khila-parva) named Harivamsham, of about 25,000 shlokas is also treated as a part of this epic. More episodes about Balaraama and Krisha are described in it. For ots translation, see the link Harivamsham or Khila-Parva
Now, follow the below links as you need.
Parva-content. Persons. Places Other Things Critical Study Quiz
"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."
DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA