|
|
|
|
Explore Mahabharata:
|
| We have the most comprehensive translation of Vyasa's Mahabharata available in public domain translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguly which is over 5000 pages of printed text. We are bringing other translations and poetic renderings of this great epic very soon. |
|
| Entire epic explained as plain story in simple words by Rajaji (C. Rajagopalachari). The narration is so lucid and sweet. |
|
| Collection of stories about memorable characters and grand episodes from mahabharata such as the story of Savitri, Agastya, Nala-Damayanti and many more.. |
|
| Collection of stories exploring the unique personality of each character in the epic Mahabharata. The intricacies in understanding the subtle personalities of characters such as Yuddhistara, Karna, Bhishma, Drona, Draupadi, Kunti, Gandhari etc. are dealt with in more detail in this section. on. |
|
| Scholarly articles related mahabharata. We collect various articles from around the web and present them to you to further your understanding of the epic. |
Mahabharata, The Greatest Indian Epic
The Mahābhārata, is the greatest, longest and one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Rāmāyana. With more than 74,000 verses, plus long prose passages, or some 1.8 million words in total, it is one of the longest epic poems in the world.
It contains eighteen Parvas or sections viz., Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virata Parva, Udyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva, Sauptika Parva, Stree Parva, Shanti Parva, Anushasana Parva, Asvamedha Parva, Ashramavasika Parva, Mausala Parva, Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohanika Parva. Each Parvacontains many sub-Parvas or subsections.
This wonderful book was composed by Sri Vyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana) who was the grandfather of the heroes of the epic. He taught this epic to his son Suka and his disciples Vaisampayana and others. King Janamejaya, son of Parikshit, the grandson of the heroes of the epic, performed a great sacrifice. The epic was recited by Vaisampayana to Janamejaya at the command of Vyasa. Later on, Suta recited the Mahabharata as was done by Vaisampayana to Janamejaya, to Saunaka and others, during a sacrifice performed by Saunaka in Naimisaranya, which is near Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh.
It is very interesting to remember the opening and closing lines of this great epic. It begins with: "Vyasa sang of the ineffable greatness and splendour of Lord Vasudeva, who is the source and support for everything, who is eternal, unchanging, self-luminous, who is the Indweller in all beings, and the truthfulness and righteousness of the Pandavas." It ends with: "With raised hands, I shout at the top of my voice; but alas, no one hears my words which can give them Supreme Peace, Joy and Eternal Bliss. One can attain wealth and all objects of desire through Dharma (righteousness). Why do not people practise Dharma? One should not abandon Dharma at any cost, even at the risk of his life. One should not relinquish Dharma out of passion or fear or covetousness or for the sake of preserving one’s life. This is the Bharata Gayatri. Meditate on this daily, O man! when you retire to sleep and when you rise from your bed every morning. You will attain everything. You will attain fame, prosperity, long life, eternal bliss, everlasting peace and immortality."
| parva | title | sub-parvas | contents |
| 1 | Adi-parva | 1-19 | Introduction, birth and upbringing of the princes. |
| 2 | Sabha-parva | 20-28 | Life at the court, the game of dice, and the exile of the Pandavas. Maya Danava erects the palace and court (sabha), at Indraprastha. |
| 3 | Vana-Parva | 29-44 | The twelve years in exile in the forest (aranya). |
| 4 | Virata-parva | 45-48 | The year in exile spent at the court of Virata. |
| 5 | Udyoga-parva | 49-59 | Preparations for war. |
| 6 | Bhishma-parva | 60-64 | The first part of the great battle, with Bhishma as commander for the Kauravas. |
| 7 | Drona-parva | 65-72 | The battle continues, with Drona as commander. |
| 8 | Karna-parva | 73 | The battle again, with Karna as commander. |
| 9 | Shalya-parva | 74-77 | The last part of the battle, with Shalya as commander. |
| 10 | Sauptika-parva | 78-80 | How Ashvattama and the remaining Kauravas killed the Pandava army in their sleep (Sauptika). |
| 11 | Stri-parva | 81-85 | Gandhari and the other women (stri) lament the dead. |
| 12 | Shanti-parva | 86-88 | The crowning of Yudhisthira, and his instructions from Bhishma |
| 13 | Anusasana-parva | 89-90 | The final instructions (anusasana) from Bhishma. |
| 14 | Ashvamedhika-parva | 91-92 | The royal ceremony of the ashvamedha conducted by Yudhisthira. |
| 15 | Ashramavasika-parva | 93-95 | Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti leave for an ashram, and eventual death in the forest. |
| 16 | Mausala-parva | 96 | The infighting between the Yadavas with maces (mausala). |
| 17 | Mahaprasthanika-parva | 97 | The first part of the path to death (mahaprasthana "great journey") of Yudhisthira and his brothers. |
| 18 | Svargarohana-parva | 98 | The Pandavas return to the spiritual world (svarga). |
|
|
|
கருத்துகள் இல்லை:
கருத்துரையிடுக