Summary The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa in English www.holybooks.com
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The Mahabharata is an esteemed text that chronicles the monumental conflict between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, highlighting significant events and notable individuals.
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Key Points
- The Mahabharata is a sacred text that tells the story of the great war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
- It is filled with tales of heroes and gods, and is considered a source of knowledge and wisdom.
- The story is filled with twists and turns, and is revered by Brahmanas and scholars alike.
- The Mahabharata covers the birth of important figures such as Vyasa, Bhishma, and Krishna.
- The Pandavas were wronged by the Kurus, but they chose to endure the persecution instead of seeking revenge.
Summaries
23 word summary
The Mahabharata is a revered text that recounts the epic war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, including key events and important figures.
92 word summary
The Mahabharata is a revered sacred text that recounts the epic war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The first volume, Adi Parva, introduces the concept of an Akshauhini, a unit of measurement for an army, and provides an overview of the 18 parvas (books) of the Mahabharata. It mentions key events such as the gambling match, exile in the forest, the war, and its aftermath. The text also includes stories of important figures like Vyasa, Bhishma, and Krishna, as well as the birth of the Pandavas, Kauravas, and other significant characters.
158 word summary
The Mahabharata is a revered sacred text that recounts the epic war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The first volume, Adi Parva, sets the stage for the battle in the region of Samanta-panchaka. It introduces the concept of an Akshauhini, a unit of measurement for an army. The text provides an overview of the 18 parvas (books) of the Mahabharata, highlighting key events such as the gambling match, exile in the forest, the war, and its aftermath. It mentions the curse placed on Agni by Bhrigu and the story of Ruru. The text focuses on Dundubha's curse and the birth of Astika, who saves the snakes from Janamejaya's snake-sacrifice. It also includes stories of Garuda, Jaratkaru, and Astika's boon. The birth of important figures like Vyasa, Bhishma, and Krishna is mentioned, as well as the birth of the Pandavas, Kauravas, and other significant characters. The stories of Sakuntala and other characters are not included in this excerpt.
519 word summary
The Mahabharata is a revered sacred text that recounts the epic war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. In the first volume, Adi Parva, the stage is set for the battle in the region of Samanta-panchaka. The concept of an Akshauhini, a unit of measurement for an army, is introduced. Brahmanas and scholars consider the Mahabharata a source of knowledge and wisdom.
The text provides an overview of the 18 parvas (books) of the Mahabharata, highlighting key events such as the gambling match, exile in the forest, the war, and its aftermath. It emphasizes that the Mahabharata influences various aspects of life and is a source of knowledge.
The curse placed on Agni by Bhrigu is mentioned, which restricted Agni to only eating clarified butter. However, Brahma later lifted the curse, allowing Agni to consume his portion as well as offerings to gods and ancestors. The story of Ruru, who vowed to kill all snakes after losing his love Pramadvara to a snake bite but was convinced otherwise by a Dundubha snake, is also included.
The text excerpt focuses on Dundubha's curse and the birth of Astika. Dundubha reveals that he was once a Rishi named Sahasrapat who was transformed into a snake by a Brahmana's curse. Ruru seeks Dundubha's help and learns that he will be freed from the curse when he sees Ruru, who is Pramati's son. The story then transitions to Astika, who saves the snakes from Janamejaya's snake-sacrifice.
Garuda, the king of birds, possesses great strength and carries the divine elixir, amrita. He defeats Indra's attempt to attack him and vows to protect his mother from snakes by devouring them. Garuda receives boons from Vishnu and becomes his carrier. Sesha, another serpent, practices asceticism to avoid his wicked brothers.
Jaratkaru encounters Pitris hanging by a thread in a hole and offers to help. They advise him to marry a maiden who will bestow herself as alms and promises to protect her. Jaratkaru accepts a maiden offered by Vasuki, the king of snakes, and vows to protect her.
Astika arrives at the snake-sacrifice and promises to protect the snakes from the curse. He blesses the king and priests and declares his intention to fulfill the sacrifice and stop Takshaka from causing harm. Astika's wisdom and power are praised.
The king grants Astika's request for a boon. During a sacrificial ceremony, many snakes fall into a fire and are burned. Astika is grateful for the boon and returns home. The snakes promise not to harm those who call upon Astika.
The Mahabharata tells the story of the Kurus and Pandavas and their reasons for fighting each other. The Pandavas choose endurance over revenge. The birth of important figures like Vyasa, Bhishma, and Krishna is also included.
The text also mentions the birth of various characters, including the Pandavas and Kauravas, who were born to different wives and were handsome and knowledgeable. Asuras were also born on Earth as powerful kings and warriors. The birth of Karna, Duryodhana, and other significant characters is highlighted.
The stories of Sakuntala and other characters are not included in the provided excerpt.
590 word summary
The Mahabharata is a sacred text that tells the story of the great war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The first volume, Adi Parva, sets the stage for the epic battle and introduces the region of Samanta-panchaka where the war takes place. It also explains the concept of an Akshauhini, the unit of measurement for an army. The Mahabharata is revered by Brahmanas and scholars as a source of knowledge and wisdom.
The text provides an overview of the 18 parvas (books) of the Mahabharata, highlighting key events and stories covered in each. It emphasizes the gambling match, exile in the forest, the war, and the aftermath as significant parts of the narrative. The Mahabharata is considered a source of knowledge that influences various aspects of life.
The curse placed on Agni by Bhrigu is mentioned, which resulted in Agni being able to eat only clarified butter. The curse was later lifted by Brahma, allowing Agni to eat his own portion as well as offerings made to gods and ancestors. The story of Ruru, who fell in love with Pramadvara but lost her when she was bitten by a snake, is also included. Ruru made a vow to kill all snakes but was convinced by a Dundubha snake not to harm them.
The text excerpt focuses on the curse of the snake Dundubha and the birth of Astika. Dundubha reveals that he was once a Rishi named Sahasrapat who was transformed into a snake by a Brahmana's curse. Ruru seeks Dundubha's help to be freed from the curse and learns that he will be delivered when he sees Ruru, who is Pramati's son. The story then transitions to Astika, Jaratkaru and Vinata's son, who later saves the snakes from Janamejaya's snake-sacrifice.
Garuda, the king of birds, possessed great strength and carried the divine elixir, amrita. Indra feared Garuda and attempted to attack him but was easily defeated. Garuda made a vow to protect his mother from snakes and devoured them. He received boons from Vishnu and became his carrier. Sesha, another serpent, practiced asceticism to avoid his wicked brothers.
Jaratkaru encounters Pitris hanging by a thread in a hole and offers to help. They advise him to marry a maiden who will bestow herself as alms and promises to protect her. Jaratkaru accepts a maiden offered by Vasuki, the king of snakes, and vows to protect her.
Astika arrives at the snake-sacrifice and promises to protect the snakes from the curse. He blesses the king and priests and declares that he will fulfill the sacrifice and stop Takshaka from causing harm. Astika's wisdom and power are praised by the Ritwikas and Sadasyas.
The king grants Astika's request for a boon without specifying what it is. The snakes fall into a fire during a sacrificial ceremony, and many are burned. Astika is grateful for the boon and returns home. The snakes promise not to harm those who call upon Astika.
The Mahabharata is a sacred text that tells the story of the Kurus and Pandavas and why they fought each other. The Pandavas chose to endure persecution instead of seeking revenge. The birth of important figures like Vyasa, Bhishma, and Krishna is also included.
The story of the birth of various characters, including the Pandavas and Kauravas, is mentioned. The sons of Pandu were born to different wives and were handsome and knowledgeable. Asuras were also born on Earth as powerful kings and warriors. The birth of Karna, Duryodhana, and other important characters is also highlighted.
The stories of Sakuntala,
2770 word summary
The Mahabharata is a sacred text that tells the story of the great war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. It is filled with tales of heroes and gods, and is considered a source of knowledge and wisdom. The first volume, Adi Parva, contains the introduction and sets the stage for the epic battle. It also describes the region known as Samanta-panchaka, where the war takes place. The text explains the concept of an Akshauhini, which is the unit of measurement for an army. The story is filled with twists and turns, and is revered by Brahmanas and scholars alike.
The text excerpt provides a brief overview of the 18 parvas (books) of the Mahabharata. It mentions the key events and stories covered in each parva, including the gambling match, exile in the forest, the war, and the aftermath. It also highlights the importance of the Mahabharata as a source of knowledge and its influence on various aspects of life. The excerpt concludes with the mention of the Harivansa and Vishnu Purana as appendices to the Mahabharata.
The text describes the curse placed on Agni by Bhrigu, which resulted in Agni being unable to eat anything except clarified butter. The curse was eventually lifted by Brahma, allowing Agni to eat his own portion as well as the offerings made to the gods and ancestors. The text also tells the story of Ruru, who fell in love with Pramadvara but lost her when she was bitten by a snake. Ruru made a vow to kill all snakes, but a Dundubha snake convinced him not to harm them.
The text excerpt describes the story of the Mahabharata, specifically focusing on the curse of the snake Dundubha and the birth of Astika. Dundubha reveals that he was once a Rishi named Sahasrapat who was transformed into a snake by a Brahmana's curse. Ruru, a descendant of Pramati, asks Dundubha how he can be freed from the curse. Dundubha tells him that he will be delivered from the curse when he sees Ruru, who is the son of Pramati. The text then transitions to the story of Astika, the son of Jaratkaru and Vinata. Astika's birth is significant because he later saves the snakes from Janamejaya's snake-sacrifice.
Garuda, the king of birds, possessed great strength and was invincible. He had the power to darken the skies and was able to carry the amrita, a divine elixir. Indra, the king of gods, feared Garuda and tried to attack him, but Garuda easily defeated the gods. Garuda made a vow to protect his mother from the snakes and devoured them. He then received boons from Vishnu and became his carrier. Sesha, another serpent, practiced asceticism and sought to avoid his wicked brothers.
Jaratkaru, a Muni engaged in ascetic penances, encounters Pitris (ancestors) hanging by a thread in a hole. They reveal that they are his ancestors and are suffering due to the loss of their children. Jaratkaru offers to help and asks what he should do. They advise him to take a wife and beget children. Jaratkaru agrees and promises to marry a maiden who is willing to bestow herself as alms, and whom he will not maintain. He then accepts a maiden offered by Vasuki, the king of snakes, and vows to protect her.
Astika, the son of Parikshit, arrives at the snake-sacrifice and assures everyone that he will protect them from the curse. He addresses his mother, Jaratkaru, explaining the purpose of his birth and his mission to relieve the snakes from their curse. Astika then enters the sacrificial compound and offers his blessings to the king and the priests. He declares that he will fulfill the sacrifice and stop Takshaka, the prince of snakes, from causing harm. The Ritwikas and Sadasyas praise Astika's wisdom and power, comparing him to great kings and sages.
The king Astika asked for a boon from Parikshit, but he did not ask for anything specific. The Brahmanas told the king to grant Astika's request, so he gave him a boon. The snakes fell into the fire during a sacrificial ceremony, and many of them were burned. Vasuki's race and Takshaka's race both had significant members burned in the fire. Astika was grateful for the boon and returned home. The snakes were pleased with Astika and promised not to harm those who called upon him. The Mahabharata is a sacred text that should be read by those seeking virtue and victory. It tells the story of the Kurus and the Pandavas and why they fought each other. The Pandavas were wronged by the Kurus, but they chose to endure the persecution instead of seeking revenge. The story also includes the birth of many important figures, such as Vyasa, Bhishma, and Krishna.
The Mahabharata tells the story of the birth of various characters, including the Pandavas and Kauravas. The sons of Pandu were born to different wives and were all handsome and knowledgeable. The Asuras, or demons, were also born on Earth as powerful kings and warriors. The sons of Diti, such as Hiranyakasipu and Viprachitti, became Jarasandha and Sisupala respectively. Other Asuras, like Karna and Duryodhana, were also born among men. The sons of Vasudeva, such as Arjuna and Bhima, were incarnations of gods like Indra and Vayu. The story also mentions the birth of other characters, including the Kauravas and the wives of gods who became queens on Earth.
Sakuntala, the daughter of Menaka and Viswamitra, was married to King Dushmanta and bore him a son named Sarvadamana. However, when Sakuntala went to the king's court with her son, Dushmanta claimed to not remember their marriage. Sakuntala, hurt and angry, reminded him of their union and the promises he made. Eventually, Dushmanta recognized his son and agreed to make him his heir. Sakuntala returned to her father's hermitage, and Dushmanta ruled as king with Sarvadamana as his heir.
Devayani, the daughter of Sukra, was ill-treated by Sarmishta, the daughter of Vrishaparvan. Devayani's maid informed her father of the incident, and he went to the forest to find her. Devayani explained what had happened and Sukra comforted her. He reminded her that she should not let the words of others affect her, and that she should rise above anger. He taught her the importance of forgiveness and controlling one's emotions.
Yayati, the son of Nahusha, installed his son Puru on the throne and entered the forest to lead a hermit's life. He practiced severe austerities, lived on fruits and roots, and performed sacrifices for the gods and pitris. After some time, he ascended to heaven and enjoyed the pleasures of life for a thousand years. Eventually, he returned to Earth and lived in the forest as a hermit again.
The descendants of Puru, including Pravira, Manu, and Yayati, were all great monarchs known for their wisdom, virtue, and prowess. Pravira's son Manashyu had three sons, while Yayati had two wives and many sons. From Yayati's line came Devayani and Sarmishtha, who gave birth to Yadu and Puru respectively. The descendants of Puru, including Dushmanta, Santanu, and Pratipa, were all mighty warriors and kings who ruled over vast kingdoms.
Santanu, a wise and truthful king, ruled the Earth with virtue and protected all creatures. His son Devavrata, known for his beauty and intelligence, excelled in knowledge and warfare. One day, Santanu saw a celestial maiden and desired her as his wife. She agreed on the condition that their son would inherit the throne. Devavrata supported his father's desire and sought the maiden's hand. The maiden's father agreed, but asked that their son be made king.
Satyavati seeks Bhishma's help in finding a suitable husband for her grandson Vichitravirya. Bhishma suggests that the princesses of Kasi be married to Vichitravirya, but they reject the proposal. Bhishma then takes a vow to remain celibate and promises to protect the kingdom. Satyavati insists that Bhishma find a solution to continue the lineage. Vyasa, Satyavati's son, is called upon to father children with the widows of Vichitravirya. He fathers Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura, who become important figures in the Mahabharata.
In the Sambhava Parva, the god of justice cursed a Brahmana ascetic named Mandavya, who then cursed the god to be born as a Sudra. Mandavya was impaled by mistake but survived due to his ascetic power. He summoned other Rishis for help and they asked him what sin he had committed. The god of justice revealed that Mandavya had unknowingly pierced an insect with a blade of grass, which resulted in his curse. The god established a limit on the consequences of actions, stating that sins committed before the age of fourteen would not be recognized. As a result of the curse, the god of justice was born as Vidura in the Sudra order, who became well-versed in morality and politics. Pandu, the son of Vichitravirya, married Kunti and Madri and had five sons - Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. Dhritarashtra, the blind king, had one hundred sons with Gandhari and another son named Yuyutsu with a Vaisya woman. The sons of Dhritarashtra were named Duryodhana, Yuyutsu, Dussasana, Dussaha, Dussala, Jalasandha, Sama, Saha, Vinda, Anuvinda, and many others.
Pandu, disguised as a deer, is killed by King Bharata. Before dying, Pandu curses the king, saying that he will die when he feels sexual desire. Pandu's wife, Kunti, and his other wife, Madri, are deeply afflicted by his death. Pandu's son, Yudhishthira, succeeds him as king. Pandu's wife, Kunti, invokes various gods to bear children. She gives birth to three sons: Bhima, Arjuna, and Yudhishthira. Kunti also invokes Indra and gives birth to a son named Arjuna. The gods and celestial beings celebrate the birth of these sons.
The twins Aswins, the eight Vasus, the mighty Maruts, and other celestial beings came to witness the birth of Pandu's children. Kunti refused Pandu's request for a fourth child, citing the scriptures. Madri, feeling inferior for being childless, suggested Kunti grant her a child. Pandu then asked Kunti for more children, and she agreed. Madri gave birth to Nakula and Sahadeva. Pandu died, and Madri sacrificed herself on his pyre. The ascetics performed the last rites, and the Pandavas returned to Hastinapura.
Drona, the son of Bharadwaja, arrived at Hastinapura and became a private tutor for the Kuru princes. Aswatthaman, his son, also taught them. One day, while playing, the princes lost a ball in a well. Drona offered to retrieve it using blades of grass infused with weapon-like powers. Impressed, the princes asked Drona to teach them more. Drona taught them various weapons and skills, and Arjuna excelled above all. The princes then demonstrated their skills in an exhibition, which led to Kama's installation as king of Anga.
Duryyodhana, along with his brothers, formed a conspiracy to burn Kunti and her sons. However, Vidura, wise and devoted to the Pandavas, discovered their plan. He advised Kunti to escape with her children to Varanavata. The Pandavas followed Vidura's advice and entered the deep woods with the wealth they had been given. Meanwhile, Duryyodhana won over the people with wealth and honours, creating the illusion that Varanavata was a delightful town. The Pandavas, unaware of the plot, set out for Varanavata with the blessings of their supporters.
The Pandavas bid farewell to their elders and set out for Varanavata. The citizens of Varanavata followed them, expressing their sympathy. Vidura, knowing of the danger, secretly warned the Pandavas. They arrived in Varanavata and were warmly welcomed by the people. Purochana, at the command of Duryodhana, built a house made of inflammable materials to burn the Pandavas alive. Vidura's friend, a skilled miner, helped the Pandavas escape through a secret underground passage. They fled into the forest, where they encountered Hidimva, a rakshasa. Bhima fought and defeated Hidimva with Arjuna's assistance.
Bhima and Arjuna are preparing to fight a Rakshasa. Arjuna suggests killing the Rakshasa quickly, but Bhima wants to play with him first. Bhima defeats the Rakshasa with his strength and the help of his father, Vayu. The Rakshasa dies, and Bhima is praised by his brothers. They continue on their journey and encounter a Brahmana who is being terrorized by a Rakshasa. Kunti suggests sacrificing one of their own to save the Brahmana, and Bhima volunteers. Yudhishthira questions this decision, but Kunti explains that Bhima's strength will protect him. Bhima goes to confront the Rakshasa and defeats him in a fierce battle.
The Rakshasas agreed to die after Bhima promised to kill Vaka. Bhima dragged Vaka's lifeless body out of town without being noticed. Vaka's kinsmen fled in fear. Bhima returned to the Brahmana's abode and told Yudhishthira what happened. The next morning, the townspeople saw Vaka's dead body and were amazed. They prayed and celebrated the Brahmana who had saved them. The Pandavas then decided to go to Panchala, where they met a Gandharva who gave them horses and an illusion-producing science.
The daughter of a king, who is in love with a man, begs him to accept her. She tells him that her heart belongs to him and asks him to relieve her suffering. The man, who is the god of desire, has been struck by her beauty and is piercing her heart with his arrows. She asks him to extinguish the flame of desire with his love. The man, however, reveals himself to be a king and says that he cannot approach her without her father's permission. The king then tells her that he is actually a slave to his father's will and cannot make decisions for himself. The girl pleads with him to ask her father for her hand in marriage, promising to be his obedient wife. She reveals her name as Tapati, the daughter of the sun god, and the younger sister of Savitri. The king agrees to ask for her hand in marriage and vows to be faithful to her.
Arjuna, with the strength of Indra, successfully strings the bow and shoots the mark at Draupadi's Swayamvara. The other kings become enraged and plan to attack Drupada. However, Bhima and Arjuna confront them, and a fierce battle ensues. Arjuna defeats Karna, while Bhima throws Salya to the ground without harming him. The other kings are amazed by the Pandavas' prowess and wonder about their lineage.
The Pandavas, led by Yudhishthira, arrive at the abode of the potter and are greeted by Krishna. They convince the assembled monarchs to abandon the fight and instead ascertain the identity of the Pandavas. Krishna, believed to be the son of Kunti, is chosen as Draupadi's husband. Kunti and Krishna return to the potter's house, where the Pandavas take their seats and engage in conversation. Dhrishtadyumna follows the Pandavas and reports back to King Drupada, who prepares a feast for the wedding. Vyasa reveals that Draupadi is a celestial being who has taken birth as Drupada's daughter to be the wife of the Pandavas. The wedding takes place with great joy and Drupada bestows many gifts upon the newlyweds.
The Pandavas, along with their wife Draupadi, settled in the city of Khandavaprastha after obtaining the kingdom of Indraprastha. The city was adorned with gardens, palatial mansions, and beautiful lakes. The Pandavas ruled the land virtuously and were loved by the people. They performed propitiatory ceremonies and measured out a piece of land for their city. The city became like Bhogavati, the capital of the nether kingdom, and was named Indraprastha.
Arjuna attended a grand festival of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas at the Raivataka mountain. The festival was filled with music, dance, and giving of wealth to Brahmanas. Arjuna and Krishna wandered together and saw Bhadra, the beautiful daughter of Vasudeva. Arjuna was instantly attracted to her, and Krishna noticed his infatuation.
Krishna and Arjuna set out to consume the forest of Khandava. Agni, the god of fire, had failed to burn the forest due to the protection of Indra. With the help of Varuna and Agni, Krishna and Arjuna obtained powerful weapons and a celestial car. They began a great slaughter of the creatures in the forest, while Indra tried to extinguish the fire with rain. The forest burned, and many creatures perished in the flames.
The forest of Khandava was burning, filled with smoke and lightning. Arjuna invoked weapons to prevent the rain caused by Indra. Aswasena, the son of Takshaka, tried to escape the fire but was swallowed by his mother, who was then killed by Arjuna. Indra sought to save Aswasena, but Arjuna fought him. Eventually, Arjuna dispelled the clouds and Agni consumed the forest. Agni spared Mandapala's sons, who had taken the form of birds. Indra praised Krishna and Arjuna.