Highlights · How is the Mahabharata divided? · Name of The Original Mahabharata, written down and narrated by · The regional retellings of the epic
Mahabharata is one of the two major ancient Sanskrit epic poems of India, the other being Ramayana. It is considered one of the longest epic poems in the world, with over 100,000 verses. The Mahabharata is a story of a great war that took place between two sets of cousins, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, for control of the kingdom of Hastinapur. The epic also includes many philosophical and religious teachings, including discussions on the nature of dharma (duty) and the human condition. It is believed to have been written by the sage Vyasa, and is regarded as one of the most important works of ancient Indian literature and culture.
The Mahabharata is divided into 18 books, or Parvas, which contain a total of over 100,000 verses. The 18 Parvas are:
1. Adi Parva: The first book of the Mahabharata, which contains the introduction to the epic and describes the birth and childhood of the main characters.
2. Sabha Parva: This book describes the building of a great hall by the Pandavas and the Kauravas, and the events that take place there.
Sri Mahabharatha- Adi Parva and Sabha Parva (An Old and Rare Book)
3. Vana Parva: The third book describes the Pandavas' exile into the forest, their encounters with various sages, and the events that take place during their exile.
శ్రీ మహభారతము: The Mahabharata - Van Parva, Part 2 (Telugu)
4. Virata Parva: This book describes the Pandavas' stay in the kingdom of Virata, where they live in disguise for a year.
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5. Udyoga Parva: The fifth book describes the events leading up to the great war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Vidura Niti (Mahabharata - Udyogaparva)
6. Bhishma Parva: This book describes the first ten days of the Great War, including the famous Bhagavad Gita discourse between Krishna and Arjuna.
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7. Drona Parva: The seventh book describes the events of the war that take place while the warrior Drona is leading the Kaurava army.
8. Karna Parva: This book describes the events of the war that take place while the warrior Karna is leading the Kaurava army.
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9. Shalya Parva: The ninth book describes the events of the war that take place while the warrior Shalya is leading the Kaurava army.
10. Sauptika Parva: This book describes the events that take place during the night after the war has ended.
Parva Duology Adi Parva & Sauptik (Set of 2 Volumes)
11. Stri Parva: The eleventh book describes the women of the Mahabharata and their roles in the epic.
12. Shanti Parva: This book contains the teachings of Bhishma on dharma and other philosophical topics.
महाभारत - शान्तिपर्व (संस्कृत एवम् हिन्दी अनुवाद): Shanti Parva of Mahabharata Translated by Shripad Damodar Satwalekar (Set of 2 Volumes)
13. Anushasana Parva: The thirteenth book contains the teachings of Bhishma on dharma and other philosophical topics.
శ్రీ మహాభారతమ్: Shri Mahabharatam- Anushasana Parva (Set of 2 Volumes in Telugu)
14. Ashvamedhika Parva: This book describes the horse sacrifice performed by Yudhishthira after the war.
महाभारत का आश्वमेधिक पर्व: Ashvamedhika Parva of Mahabharata (An Old and Rare Book)
15. Ashramavasika Parva: The fifteenth book describes the retirement of the Pandavas into the forest.
16. Mausala Parva: This book describes the events leading up to the death of Krishna and the end of the Yadava dynasty.
Mahabharatam- Mahaprasthanika and Svargarohana Parvams (Telugu)
17. Mahaprasthanika Parva: The seventeenth book describes the journey of the Pandavas towards the Himalayas and their eventual ascent into heaven.
18. Swargarohanika Parva: This book describes the ascent of Yudhishthira into heaven and the end of the epic.
It is believed that Jaya Samhita is the original name of Mahabharata, and that Mahabharata was written down by Lord Ganesha, but narrated by Maharishi Ved Vyasa. Jaya, parenthetically, is the name of the original version of Mahabharata, which was written by Sage Vyasa and it had only 8800 shlokas. It was this version which expanded to 24000 shlokas and came to be known as Bharata. It was further expanded over the years to 100,000 shlokas and came to be known as Mahabharata. The story behind this is that Vyasa had the entire story planned out in his head but knew what an unnerving task it could be to pen it down. Thus, he prayed to Brahma to help him out. On Brahma's proposition, Vyasa then sought out Ganesha, the god of insight and knowledge, to pen the epic. Interestingly enough, Vyasa appears for the first time as the compiler of, and a notable character in the Mahabharata. It is also believed that he was the extension of the god Vishnu who arrived in Dvapara Yuga to make all the Vedic knowledge abundant in written arrangement which was accessible in spoken form at that time.
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There are various regional versions and retellings that have been adapted over time. These versions often include local variations and interpretations, as well as additional stories and characters that are not present in the original Sanskrit version. Some of the well-known regional versions of the Mahabharata include the Tamil version, known as the "Kamba Ramayana," which is considered to be one of the most important works of Tamil literature and is highly revered by Tamil-speaking people in India and Sri Lanka.
The Bengali version, known as the "Bengali Mahabharata". The Bengali Mahabharata is a Bengali language adaptation of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. It was composed in the 15th century by the poet Kashiram Das, who was a court poet in the kingdom of Gour in present-day West Bengal, India. The Bengali Mahabharata follows the same basic story as the original Sanskrit version, but includes many local Bengali cultural elements, as well as additional stories and characters not found in the original. Kashiram Das is said to have drawn inspiration from various other regional adaptations of the Mahabharata, as well as the original Sanskrit version. The Bengali Mahabharata is known for its poetic style and vivid descriptions, and is considered an important work of Bengali literature. It has been translated into many languages and continues to be an important part of Bengali culture and tradition.
Mahabharata is an important part of Indian culture for many reasons. Firstly, it is an epic poem that has had a profound impact on Indian literature, culture, and religious thought. It contains a wealth of knowledge about various aspects of Indian life, including the social, political, and religious beliefs of the people of that time. Secondly, the Mahabharata is also an important religious text for Hindus. It contains many teachings on dharma (righteousness), karma (action), and moksha (liberation), which are fundamental concepts in Hindu philosophy. The Bhagavad Gita, which is a part of the Mahabharata, is one of the most revered scriptures in Hinduism. Finally, the Mahabharata is an important cultural symbol for Indians. It is often seen as a representation of Indian unity and diversity, as it contains stories from various parts of the Indian subcontinent. The characters in the Mahabharata, such as Krishna and Arjuna, are also revered as cultural icons and are the subject of many myths, legends, and artistic representations.
Key Takeaways 1. Jaya Samhita is the original name of Mahabharata. 2. The Mahabharata is divided into 18 books, or Parvas, which contain a total of over 100,000 verses 3. There are numerous retellings and versions of Mahabharata, and these are vernacularly diverse. 4. The different linguistically-varying versions of Mahabharata may have additional stories and characters that are not seen in the original Sanskrit version.
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