MAARKANDEYA presents MAHAABHAARATHAM

  @@@ contact me @@@  

W E L C O M E


"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."

DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA

INDEX OF CONTENTS

The content of the epic is divided into 18 volumes called parvas. Besides these eighteen parvas, another book called Harivamsham is also attached to the main epic as khila-parva i.e. an appendix . This part describes the life and activities of Krishna that were not vividly described in the main epic. Together With this Harivamsham of around 25000 shlokas, the entire epic runs into around 1 25 000 shlokas.

Details of parvas and their shlokas.

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