Sacred Learning
Vyāsa Mahābhārata
The great Bhārata as eighteen books, with the Harivamsha walking beside them.
Index only — text still opening
Vyāsa’s Mahābhārata is received as eighteen parvans. Sub-parva and adhyāya counts differ between the vulgate and the BORI Critical Edition. This index uses the eighteen traditional names.
The Bhagavad Gītā is spoken in the Bhīṣma-parvan and has its own study door in this library. The Harivamsha is the khila — an appendix of Kṛṣṇa’s lineage — walking beside the eighteen parvans.
Another name lives in this circle. Try Gāyatrī, Oṃ, or ṚV.
Ādi-parvan
Beginnings, lineages, and the hall of the tale.
Sabhā-parvan
The assembly and the dice.
Āraṇyaka-parvan
Forest exile. Also called Vana-parvan.
Virāṭa-parvan
The thirteenth year in disguise.
Udyoga-parvan
Preparation for war.
Bhīṣma-parvan
Bhīṣma’s command; the Gītā is heard here.
Droṇa-parvan
Droṇa’s command.
Karṇa-parvan
Karṇa’s command.
Śalya-parvan
Śalya’s command and the mace duel.
Sauptika-parvan
The night assault.
Strī-parvan
The women’s lament.
Śānti-parvan
Bhīṣma’s teaching on kingship and peace.
Anuśāsana-parvan
Further instruction.
Āśvamedhika-parvan
The horse sacrifice.
Āśramavāsika-parvan
Retirement to the hermitage.
Mausala-parvan
The clubs and the Yādava end.
Mahāprasthānika-parvan
The great departure.
Svargārohaṇa-parvan
The ascent.
Harivamsha
Khila of the Mahabharata, walking beside the eighteen parvans.