Anukramanika Upa-Parva
Anukramanika Parva begins with Ugrasrava Sauti – a wise and popular bard – going to Naimisha Forest to meet the rishis and ascetics who had attended Saunaka Kulapati’s 12-year yagna. Sauti had a reputation for telling fascinating stories that often made the hair in the listeners’ neck stand up because of anticipation and excitement. After exchanging greetings at Rishi Kulapati’s hermitage, Sauti asked the rishis and ascetics what they wanted to hear from him. They asked Sauti to narrate the sacred history of Bharata. Sauti had recently heard the entire story from Rishi Vaishampayana – a disciple of Rishi Veda Vyasa – at King Janamejaya’s sarpa-satra (snake sacrifice). Sauti began with a prayer to Ishana (Shiva). After that, he spoke about the origin of the universe and the birth of creators and gods. Then he used the metaphor of a tree, its roots, branches, leaves, and flowers to present a character description of the Pandavas and Kauravas. Along with comparing the Pandavas and Kauravas to a tree, Sauti also explained the spiritual benefits of reading the Mahabharata. This part may be of special interest to people who want to read the Mahabharata to purify their consciousness and understand the dharma.
He also narrated the tearful lamentations of Dhritarashtra (father of Kauravas) to Sanjaya after the Kauravas had lost the war at Kurukshetra to the Pandavas. These shlokas cover the major incidents that happened in Mahabharata.
Ugrasrava Sauti Goes to Naimisha Forest
Creation Story of the Universe as Explained in the Adi Parva of The Mahabharata
Lord Ganesha Becomes Vyasa Muni’s Scribe
Sauti Compares The Mahabharata to a Tree
A Brief Summary of The Mahabharata
Dhritarashtra’s Lamentation: A Summary of Main Events till the end of the War
Sanjaya Consoles Dhritarashtra
The Benefits of Reading the Mahabharata
Sangraha Upa-Parva
Sangraha Parva is the second upa-parva and has a similar role as the previous (Anukramanika Upa-Parva). This, too, provides summaries of the Mahabharata in two sets.
The Mahabharata has been divided in two ways by different scholars. Some people divide it into eighteen parvas while others divide it into hundred upa-parvas. Amoung the two sets of summaries in Sangraha Upa-Parva, the first set lists the eighteen parvas and the second set details the hundred upa-parvas.
Sauti starts by describing Samantapanchaka where Parashuram – the eighth avatar of Sri Vishnu – had wiped out all the kshatriyas of the earth in a fierce and bloody battle, upon the request of the rishis. He also provides information about the size of the armies of the Kauravas and Pandavas that faced each other on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The combined forces of both the armies totalled eighteen akshaulinis. Sauti also explains the calculation of an akshauhini.
The summary of each parva includes the number of chapters and shlokas it contains. Sauti mentions that apart from the eighteen parvas, Veda Vyasa had added two appendices called Hari Vamsha and Bhavishya.
The table below lists the number of chapters and shlokas as in each parva of the Mahabharata. The details are according to Biberk Debroy’s translation of the Critical Edition version of the Mahabharata.
The Strength of One Akshauhini
A Listing With a Brief Outline of all the Parvas of the Mahabharata
A Summary of the Aranyaka Parva
A Summary of the Bhishma Parva
A Summary of the Sauptika Parva
A Summary of the Ashwamedhika Parva
A Summary of the Anusasana Parva
A Summary of the Asramvasika Parva
A Summary of the Mausala Parva
A Summary of the Mahaprasthanika Parva
A Summary of the Swargarohana Parva
Paushya Upa-Parva
Paushya ParvaPaushya Parva is not related to the events in Mahabharata. However, it provides the necessary background information and sets the stage for Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice. Paushya Parva starts with a story of a curse on Janamejaya by a celestial she-dog called Sarama. After that it narrates the story of Rishi Ayodhya-Dhaumya and his three disciples – Aruni, Upamanyu, and Veda. After that, we find out that Veda himself became a teacher and had a student called Uttanka. Sauti also narrates the story of Veda’s disciple, Uttanka, who visited Hastinapura to meet King Janamejaya. Uttanka told King Jananejaya how the king’s father, Parikshit, was deceitfully killed by the serpent, Takshaka. This prompted Janamejaya to inquire into the details of his father’s demise.
The Curse of Sarama — The Celestial She-Dog
Rishi Ayoda-Dhaumya Tests his Pupils
Destiny Tests Uttanka (Rishi Veda’s Disciple)
Pauloma Upa-Parva
In the Pauloma Parva we learn about the Bhargava lineage which descended from Rishi Bhrigu and his wife Puloma. Their descendants are called Pauloma, hence the title for the upa-parva. Like Paushya Parva, this too, provides more context to the events leading to Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice. The upa-parva starts with a conversation between Sauti and Rishi Saunaka. After the initial exchange, Sauti went on to narrate the story of how the pregnant Puloma was kidnapped by a rakshasa and gave birth to her son as a trauma response when the rakshasa was flying away with her on his back. This son was Chyavana, who grew up to be a great rishi.
In the same incident, Rishi Bhrigu got angry at Agni Deva because he had revealed his wife, Puloma’s, identity to the rakshasa. This had led to the rakshasa kidnapping Paloma. In anger, Rishi Bhrigu cursed Agni Deva that from now on, Agni would have to eat unclean offerings along with clean offerings. Agni Deva, who till that point had only consumed clean offerings, was upset because he believed the curse was unfair. The rakshasa had pointed to Paloma and asked him if the lady was Rishi Bhrigu’s wife, Puloma, and by answering in the affirmative, Agni Deva had simply spoken the truth. In response to the wrongful curse, Agni Deva retreated from Earth. This caused much trouble to everyone. The rishis pleaded with Brahma Deva to help them. Brahma Deva had a conversation with Agni and convinced him to rise again. He said that the curse made Agni a creator and a destroyer. He could destroy the bad by consuming it while anything good and pure came out unscathed from the fire. Brahma Deva’s words pleased Agni and he returned to Earth, to everyone’s relief.
After that, Sauti moved on to the story about Chyavana who married Sukanya. They had a son named Pramati whose son was the great rishi Ruru. Ruru married Pramadvara and had a son Shaunaka. We also learn about the love story of Ruru and Pramadvara, and how the rishi happily gave up half his life span to his fiancée and brought her back to life after she was fatally bitten by a snake. However, the incident made Ruru angry with all snakes and he became determined to kill any snake that crossed his path. This anger was quenched attic several years when Ruru met Rishi Sahasrapata who was cursed to live as a snake. The Rishi shared his story about the curse and told Ruru about Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice and how a Naga rishi, Astika, saved the snakes from extinction. Ruru wanted to know more about the snake sacrifice. Sahasrapata advised him to ask his father, Pramati, about the details.
Ugrasrava Sauti Asks the Ascetics of Naimisha Forest Which Story They Want to Hear Next
A Brief Description of Sage Bhrigu’s Family
A Rakshasa Abducts Bhrigu’s Wife
Agni Deva’s Response to Sage Bhrigu’s Curse
How Agni Deva was Pacified by Lord Brahma
The Story of Apsara Menaka and the Gandharva King’s Daughter
Sage Ruru and Pramadvara — A Beautiful Love Story
Rishi Sahasrapat Regains His Human Form
Astika Upa-Parva
The Astika Parva is longer and provides the foundation for the events around Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice. Rishi Saunaka asked Sauti why King Janamejaya performed the snake sacrifice. Sauti explained how the serpent Tahshaka had killed Jananmejaya’s father, king Parikshit, through deceit. Many years after that, Takshaka also tried to steal something from a brahmin called Uttanka. Enraged by Takshaka’s act, Uttanka went to Hastinapura to inform Janamejaya how Takshaka had killed King Parikshit and encouraged Jananmejaya to perform a snake sacrifice to annihilate the serpents who had become harmful to humanity.
Sauti also described the birth of Astika from the marriage of Rishi Jaratkaru and Vasuki naga’s sister, whose name was also Jaratkaru. Astika was destined to save the serpents from extinction. He fulfilled his destiny at a very young age by going to Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice and convincing Janamejaya to stop the sacrifice just before Takshaka was going to be killed.
Sauti also talked about the esoteric reason for Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice by describing how Rishi Kashyapa’s wife, Kadru, cursed her own children (the serpents) to end up dead for not acting upon her wishes to deceive Vinata, who was another wife of sage Kashyapa. The narration of Astika Upa-Parva is not linear. Sauti takes a diversion into the past when he narrates this story which happened in Satya Yuga. This story also contains the details around the birth of Garuda – the king of the birds – and how he defeated the devas to acquire the pot of amrit to free his mother from slavery.
The upa parva also has other information such as the list of the important naga children born to Kadru. We also learn about how Sesha (the eldest naga) prayed to Brahma deva and took the responsibility to carry the earth on his hood.
Finally, we find out that the Mahabharata was publicly narrated for the first time by Vyasa’s disciple, Vaisampayana, during King Jananejaya’s snake sacrifice when the king expressed a desire to know about the history of his ancestors.
Sage Jaratkaru Meets his Pitris
Rishi Jaratkaru Places Some Conditions for Getting Married
Jaratkaru’s Son Astika — the Saviour of Serpents
The Birth of Garuda – the Serpent Eater
The Tired Gods are Re-Energized by Narayana to Continue Churning
Neelkantha Mahadev Saves the World from the Kalakuta Poison
The Battle Between Danavas and Devas for the Amrit
The Bet Between Vinata and Kadru
Vinata and Kadru Cross the Great Ocean to See Uchchaihsravas
The Gods Request Garuda to Reduce his Brightness
Why Surya Deva Wanted to Destroy the World
How Aruna Saved the World From Surya Deva’s Wrath
Vinata and Garuda Serve as Slaves of Kadru and her Snake Sons
Garuda Wants to Eat Before Battling for the Amrit
Vibhavasu the Tortoise and Supritika the Elephant
Garuda Takes a Detour to Protect the Valakhilya Rishis
Sage Kasyapa guides Garuda and the Valakhilya Rishis
Garuda’s Mission Causes Disturbing Omens in Heaven
The Devas Get Ready For a Battle With Garuda
Indra’s Past Mistake That Created Karmic Disturbances in Heaven
Sage Kasyapa’s Decision Regarding a Second Indra
Garuda’s Fierce Battle With the Devas
Garuda Breaks Past Obstacles to Seize the Amrit
How Garuda Became Vishnu’s Vehicle
Indra and Garuda Become Eternal Friends
How the Snakes Became Garuda’s Natural Food
Garuda Frees His Mother From Slavery
Names of the Principal Snakes Involved in the Tryst With Garuda
Shesha Naga Performs Ascetic Penances to Get Away From His Siblings
Sesha Naga Becomes the Earth’s Axis
Vasuki Convenes a Meeting of Serpents to Find a Way to Neutralize Kadru’s Curse
Strategies Proposed by Various Serpents for Their Welfare
Elapatra’s Suggestion to His Snake Brothers
The Devas Request Brahma Deva to Help Vasuki
The Meaning of the Name Jaratkaru
King Parikshit Commits the Mistake of Insulting a Noble Sage
The Wise Sage is Displeased With Sringin’s Rash Action
Does Sringin Regret His Rash Action?
Sage Samika Tries to Help King Parikshit Escape Sringin’s Curse
King Parikshit’s Response to Rishi Samika’s Message
Sage Kasyapa Heads to Hastinapur to Help Parikshit
Parikshit’s Son Janamejaya is Crowned the Next King
Rishi Jaratkaru Meets His Pitris
The Pitris Explain Their Background and Suffering to Jaratkaru
The Pitris Explain the Allegorical Meaning of the Rat and the Single Cord of Root
Jaratkaru Places a Condition for Marriage
Jaratkaru Marries Vasuki’s Sister
Vasuki is Anxious About the Future of the Serpents After Jaratkaru Leaves his Sister
Janamejaya Inquires About the Circumstances of King Parikshit’s Death
Janamejaya Decides to Avenge His Father’s Death
Names of the Rishis, Priests, and Ritwika Who Participated in the Snake Sacrifice
Takshaka Seeks Indra’s Protection
Astika is Asked to Save the Serpents
Astika Reaches the Location of the Snake Sacrifice
Janamejaya Wants to Give Astika a Boon But the Hotri Wants Him to Wait
Janamejaya Grants Astika’s Boon
How Takshaka Was Protected From Falling Into the Fire
Names of the Snakes Who Perished in the Sacrifice
Adivansavatarana Upa-Parva
Adivansavatarana Parva provides a little backstory to the Mahabharata along with the details of Vyasa’s birth. Sauti begins the upa-parva by describing how Janamejaya honored his grand ancestor, Vyasa, and requested Vyasa to tell him more about his great ancestors. Vyasa gestured to his disciple, Vaishampayana, who did the honors. Vaisampayana began the narration with a short prayer to his guru and the gods. After that, he gave a short summary of the key events in Mahabharata like how Duryodhana tried to kill the Pandavas several times, the burning of the house of lac, the Pandavas’ marriage to Draupadi, and the subsequent war where the Pandavas defeated the Kauravas and won the kingdom from Duryodhana.
Then Janemejaya asked Vaishampayana to share everything in detail and asked many questions about the events. Vaishampayana answered all of them by starting with how Vyasa composed the Bharata and the benefits of listening to it with devotion. He added how Vyasa narrated the events to Ganesha who wrote it down for him over a period of three years.
Vaishampayana provided the story of King Uparichara (he is also called Vasu and is a descendant of Puru) and the subsequent birth of Satyavati who grew up as the daughter of the chief of a tribe of fishermen. He continued to describe the events leading to the birth of Dvaipayana Vyasa as Satyavati’s first child. Then, he shared the story of the curse on Dharma and his rebirth as Vidura. The parentage of Sanjaya, Karna, Krishna, and others is also mentioned in brief.
Janamejaya asked for the list of all the radiant kings. Vaisampayana mentioned how Parasurama wiped out kshatriyas from the earth 21 times and how the queens of the slain kings requested the brahmins to give them children. So the next generation of kshatriyas had brahmin fathers and kshatriya mothers.
Finally, we find out how the asuras took birth on Earth after being thrown out of heaven by the devas and how they subsequently wreaked havoc and suffering on Earth. We find out that Mother Earth went to Brahma Deva to seek help and the latter asked the devas and other celestials to take birth on Earth and vanquish the asuras by entering into conflict with them.
King Janamejaya Requests Rishi Vyasa to Narrate the Story of His Ancestors
Rishi Vaishampayana Sets the Stage With a Brief Account of the Mahabharata
Benefits of Reading the Mahabharata
Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa’s Birth
A Summary of the Birth of the Main Characters in the Mahabharata
Why Did The Celestials Take Birth On Earth As The Pandavas And Other Beings?