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The Mahabharata (SAMPA: /"mäh\@%bh\är@t/ see note) is part of the Hindu Smriti -- this mythological epic tells of a civil war, between the Pandavas of King Pandu and the Kauravas of King Dhritarastra. The Mahabharata (containing 100,000+ verses) is four times longer than the Christian Bible; the text is most famous for a particular section, the Bhagavad-Gita, in which Krishna discusses philosophy.
The term Mahabharata is used in Panini's grammar dated to 450 BC. Thus it was substantially complete by that time.
The Mahabharata walks through all walks of life and is considered to be an encyclopedia of human relations.
The Mahabharata is written in eighteen parvas (chapters or books) which are:
- Adiparva
- Sabhaparva - Maya Danava Erects the Imperial Court (sabha)
- Aranyakaparva - Exile to the forest (aranya)
- Virataparva
- Udyogaparva - The Pandavas Prepare for War
- Bhismaparva
- Dronaparva - Dronacharya Becomes Commander
- Karnaparvan
- Sargarohanaparva
- Sauptikaparva
- Striparva
- Santiparva
- Anusasanaparva - The Final Instructions of Grandfather Bhishma
- Asvamedhikaparva - The Sacrificial Horse (ashva)
- Asramavasikaparva - Dhritarastra Attains Liberation
- Mausalaparva - The Curse Upon the Yadu Dynasty
- Mahaprasthanikaparva
- Svargarohanaparva - The Pandavas Return to the Spiritual World
Set in the sixth book of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita, a well known masterpiece of Hindu thought, wherein Arjuna is advised by Krishna that he must fulfill his duty by participating in a battle, at the risk of losing many friends and relatives in the fighting.
See also: Ramayana - Golden age - millennialism
External Links
- Full etext in devanagari and in transliterated Sanskrit:
- http://www.hindunet.org/mahabharata/
- http://bombay.oriental.cam.ac.uk/john/mahabharata/statement.html (requires free registration and license agreement)
- Brief Summary of the Mahabharata in English
- More detailed, book-by-book summary
- The Date Of The Mahabharata War