A01. Introduction - Mahabharata

The Mahabharata War, source: vedicfeed.com, access date: July 22, 2022.
A01. Introduction

First revision: Jul.22, 2022
Last change: Sep.21, 2024
Searched, Gathered, Rearranged, Translated, and Compiled by Apirak Kanchanakongkha.

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The Structure of the Mahābhārata
Part of the epic tradition of poetry, the Mahābhārata is a lengthy narrative poem constructed around the saga of a bitter quarrel between cousins over inheritance rights to a kingdom. It is the longest-written poem, comprising over 90,000 ślokas or verses. In India, the epic enjoys a cultural space that bridges folk, popular, classical art, and literature.

Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa (कृष्णद्वैपायन वेदव्यास) or Vyāsadeva or Vyasa, source: www.mygodpictures.com, access date: Dec.18, 2022.

The Mahābhārata was written over 1,000 years by multiple authors, although the original text is attributed to Sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, also known as Vedavyāsa. The epic is composed as a narration by Vyasa's disciple Vaiśaṃpāyana to King Janamejaya, but other narrations sit within this overarching one. This complicated nesting of narratives probably reflects the existence of different historical versions of this epic. Jaya, the original story, had 8,800 ślokas, or verses. When it came to be known as Bhārata, the tale had expanded to 24,000 ślokas. By the time it had become the Mahābhārata, the entire telling had comprised more than 90,000 ślokas. These were composed of 18 different meters. The most frequently used is the Anuṣṭubh⁰¹ meter, with four verses of eight syllables. Several ślokas form an adhyaya or chapter, and several chapters make up a Parva. Depending on the version, Mahābhārata is arranged into 100 or 18 parvas. This book adopts the 18-Parva classification, redistributing the parvas in the 100-Parva classification as sub-parvas.

1	Ā DI PARVA: THE BOOK OF THE BEGINNING	The sub-parvas: Anukramaṇikā; Parvasaṃgraha; Pauṣya; Pulomā; Āstīka; Adi-vamśvatarana; Sambhavā; Jatugriha-daha; Hiḍimba-vadha; Baka-vadha; Caitraratha; Draupadī-svayaṃvara; Vaivāhika; Vidūragamana; Rājya-lābha; Arjuna-vanavāsa; Subhadrā-harana; Haraṇaharika; and Khandava-daha.
2	SABHA PARVA: THE BOOK OF THE ASSEMBLY HALL	The sub-parvas: Sabha; Mantra; Jarasandha-vadha; Digvijaya; Rajasuya; Arghabhiharana; Shishupala-vadha; Dyuta; and Anudyuta.
3	VANA PARVA: THE BOOK OF THE FOREST	The sub-parvas: Aranyaka; Kirmira-vadha; Kairata; Indralokabhigamana; Tirtha-yatra; Jatasura-vadha; Yaksha-yuddha; Ajagar; Markandeya-samasya; Draupadi-Satyabhama-sambada; Ghosha-yatra; Mriga-svapna-bhaya; Vrihi-drounika; Draupadi-harana; Kundala-harana; and Araeya.
4	VIRATA PARVA: THE BOOK OF VIRATA	The sub-parvas: Vairata; Kichaka-vadha; Go-grahana; and Vaivahika.
5	UDYOGA PARVA: THE BOOK OF EFFORT	The sub-parvas: Udyoga; Sanjaya-yana; Prajagara; Sanatsujata; Yana-sandhi; Bhagavat-yana; Karna-upanivada; Abhiniryana; Bhisma-abhishechana; Uluka-yana; Ratha-atiratha-samkhya; and Amba-upakhyana.
6	BHISHMA PARVA: THE BOOK OF BHISHMA	The sub-parvas: Jambukhanda-vinirmana; Bhumi; Bhagavad Gītā; and Bhishma-vadha.
7	DRONA PARVA: THE BOOK OF DRONA	The sub-parvas: Dronabhisheka; Samshaptaka-vadha; Abhimanyu-vadha; Pratijna: Jayadratha-vadha; Ghatotkacha-vadha; Drona-vadha; and Narayanastra-moksha
8	KARNA PARVA: THE BOOK OF KARNA	The sub-parva: Karna-vadha.
9	SHALYA PARVA: THE BOOK OF SHALYA	The sub-parvas: Shalya-vadha; Hrada pravesha; Tirtha yatra; and Gada yuddha.
10	SAUPTIKA PARVA: THE BOOK OF SLUMBER	The sub-parvas: Souptika; and Aishika
11	STREE OR STRI PARVA: THE BOOK OF WOMEN	The sub-parvas: Vishoka; Stree; Shraddha; and Jala-pradanika.
12	SHANTI PARVA: THE BOOK OF PEACE	The sub-parvas: Raja-dharma; Apad-dharma; and Moksha-dharma.
13	ANUSHASANA PARVA: THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE	The sub-parvas: Dana-dharma; and Bhisma-swargarohana.
14	ASHWAMEDHIKA PARVA: THE BOOK OF CONQUEST	The sub-parva: Ashwamedhika.
15	ASHRAMAVASIKA PARVA: THE BOOK OF HERMITAGE	The sub-parvas: Ashrama-vasa; Putra Darshana; and Naradagamana.
16	MOUSALA PARVA: THE BOOK OF THE MACE	The sub-parva: Mousala.
17	MAHAPRASTHANIKA PARVA: THE BOOK OF RENUNCIATION	The sub-parva: Maha-prasthanika.
18	SWARGAROHANA PARVA: THE BOOK OF THE ASCENT	The sub-parva: Swargarohana.
	HARIVAMSHA: THE BOOK OF KRISHNA	The sub-parvas: Harivamsha; Vishnu; and Bhavishya.

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Notes & Narratives
⁰¹. Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्) -- A poetic meter; a horse yoked to the sun's chariot; from the fourth face of Brahmā.

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References:
01. from. "The Illustrated Mahabharata: A Definitive Guide to India's Greatest Epic," ISBN: 978-0-2412-6434-8, Penguin Random House, 2017, Printed and bound in China, www.dk.com.
02. from. "The Mahābhārata," An abridged translation by JOHN D. SMITH, ISBN: 978-0-140-44681-4, PENGUIN BOOKS, 2009, Printed in the United States of America, www.penguin.com.
03. from. "The Mahabharata: Complete 18 volume," Veda Vyasa, Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr. [1883-1896], Publishing in 2021 by Sanzani Publishing.

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