Contents:
Anukramanika Parva – Parva Sangraha Parva – Paushya Parva – Pauloma Parva – Astika Parva – Amshavatarana Parva – Sambhava Parva

Anukramanika Parva

• Beginning of the Text:
  A brief index of the subjects appearing in the book and the greatness of the Mahabharata.

Parva Sangraha Parva

• Description of the Samantapanchaka region; the number of the Akshauhini army; a brief summary of the subjects in the Parvas described in the Mahabharata; the result of listening to and reading the Mahabharata.

Paushya Parva

• Sarama’s curse to Janamejaya; Janamejaya choosing Somashrava as the priest; the devotion of Aruni, Upamanyu, Veda, and Uttanka towards their teacher; Uttanka encouraging Janamejaya to perform the Sarpa Yaga.

Pauloma Parva

• Beginning of the story.
• Puloma Rakshasa’s arrival at Sage Bhrigu’s hermitage and his conversation with Agni.
• Chyavana’s birth; the Rakshasa being burnt to ashes by his brilliance; Sage Bhrigu cursing Agni.
• Agni disappearing after becoming angry due to Bhrigu’s curse; Brahma reducing Agni’s curse and pacifying him.
• Pramadvara’s birth; the attempt for her marriage with Ruru; Pramadvara’s death due to snakebite before marriage.
• Pramadvara living through Ruru’s half-life; Pramadvara’s marriage with Ruru; Ruru’s decision to destroy snakes; meeting with Dundubha.
• Conversation between Ruru and Dundubha.
• Dundubha’s own story; Dundubha’s teaching of non-violence to Ruru.
• Ruru’s inquiry regarding Janamejaya’s Sarpa Satra.

Astika Parva

• Jaratkaru agreeing to marry according to the request of the ancestors.
• Sage Jaratkaru’s marriage with Jaratkaru, the sister of Vasuki.
• Birth of Astika and protection of the snakes that were being killed in the Sarpa Yaga.
• Kashyapa granting boons to Kadru and Vinata and their obtaining sons.
• Lord Narayana advising the gods who were discussing the obtaining of nectar on Mount Meru to churn the ocean.
• The Devas and Daityas churning the ocean for nectar; the origin of nectar along with many treasures; Lord Mahavishnu taking the form of Mohini and taking away the nectar.
• The gods drinking nectar; the battle between Devas and Asuras; victory of the gods.
• Kadru and Vinata’s wager; Kadru cursing her children; Brahma’s approval of it.
• Description of the extent of the ocean.
• The snakes making the horse’s tail black.
• Vinata becoming Kadru’s servant after being defeated; birth of Garuda; praise of Garuda by the gods.
• Garuda withdrawing his body and sharp brilliance; Aruna becoming the charioteer of the Sun to calm the intense radiance of the Sun caused by anger.
• Kadru praising Indra for protecting her children who fainted due to the heat of the Sun.
• Indra granting a boon; the snakes becoming pleased due to rain.
• Description of the forest of Ramanaka Island; Garuda consulting with the snakes to free his mother from slavery.
• Garuda’s journey to bring nectar; eating Nishadas according to his mother’s instruction.
• Kashyapa telling Garuda the previous birth story of the elephant and tortoise; Garuda lifting the elephant and tortoise and sitting on the banyan tree; the branch breaking.
• Garuda meeting Kashyapa again; at Kashyapa’s request, the Valakhilyas leaving the branch held by Garuda; Garuda placing the branch on a deserted mountain.
• Indra insulting the Valakhilyas; the birth of Aruna and Garuda through the power of the Valakhilyas’ penance.
• Garuda fighting with the gods; defeat of the gods.
• Garuda taking nectar and escaping; receiving a boon from Vishnu on the way; Indra using the Vajra weapon on Garuda.
• Friendship between Indra and Garuda; Garuda taking nectar to the snakes; Vinata being freed from slavery; Indra taking nectar back to heaven.
• Names of the chief serpents.
• Adishesha’s penance; bearing the Earth according to Brahma’s command.
• The snakes consulting among themselves to escape from the curse.
• The decision to give Jaratkaru, the sister of Vasuki, in marriage to Sage Jaratkaru.
• Brahma’s assurance to Vasuki.
• Jaratkaru’s penance; the story of Parikshit; Parikshit placing a snake around the neck of the sage; Shringi’s anger.
• Shringi cursing Parikshit; Shamik condemning Shringi for his improper act.
• Shamik consoling his son; sending the news of the curse to Parikshit through Gauramukha; the king making arrangements for self-protection; conversation between Takshaka and Kashyapa.
• Takshaka testing Kashyapa’s knowledge; being pleased with Kashyapa’s ability, Takshaka giving him great wealth and sending him back; Takshaka disguising himself and approaching the king and biting him.
• Janamejaya’s coronation and marriage.
• Jaratkaru’s conversation with his ancestors who were hanging from the Veerana pillar.
• Jaratkaru’s decision to marry.
• Jaratkaru’s marriage with the Naga princess; the Naga princess serving her husband; Jaratkaru abandoning his wife on an improper excuse.
• Vasuki’s concern; Jaratkaru consoling Vasuki; birth and education of Astika.
• Description of King Parikshit’s righteousness and good qualities; the king going hunting and insulting Sage Shamik in the forest.
• Shringi cursing Parikshit; Takshaka sending back Kashyapa who came for treatment; Parikshit’s death due to snakebite; Janamejaya’s vow to take revenge on Takshaka.
• Beginning of the Sarpa Yaga by Janamejaya.
• Beginning of the Sarpa Yaga and destruction of snakes.
• Names of the Ritviks who participated in the Sarpa Yaga; terrible destruction of snakes; Takshaka taking shelter with Indra; Vasuki telling his sister to send Astika to stop the sacrifice.
• Vasuki assuring Astika; Astika going to the Sarpa Yaga.
• Astika praising the performer of the sacrifice, the sacrifice, the Ritviks, the members, and Agni.
• King Janamejaya being ready to grant a boon to Astika; Takshaka’s anxiety; Astika asking for the Sarpa Yaga to be stopped as his boon.
• The important snakes that were burnt in the sacrificial fire.
• Completion of the sacrifice; the snakes granting a boon to Astika.

Amshavatarana Parva

• Beginning of the Mahabharata.
• Vyasa’s arrival at Janamejaya’s sacrifice; receiving honour; according to Vyasa’s instruction, Vaishampayana beginning to narrate the story of the Mahabharata.
• A brief introduction to the complete Mahabharata.
• The greatness of the Mahabharata.
• The story of Uparichara; a brief account of the birth stories of Satyavati, Vyasa, and others.
• The origin of the Kshatriya lineage from Brahmins; description of the righteous kingdom of that time; origin of the Asuras; the Earth suffering due to the burden of evil and seeking refuge in Brahma; Brahma instructing the gods to incarnate on Earth with their respective portions.

Sambhava Parva

• Description of the lineage of sages such as Marichi and Daksha’s daughters including Aditi.
• The lineage of Kashyapa’s descendants.
• Description of the partial incarnations of Devas and Danavas.
• Dushyanta’s administration of the kingdom.
• Dushyanta’s hunting expedition.
• Description of Kanva’s hermitage; Dushyanta’s entry.
• Conversation between Dushyanta and Shakuntala; Shakuntala telling her birth story to Dushyanta; Indra sending Menaka to disturb Vishwamitra’s penance.
• Meeting of Menaka and Vishwamitra; birth of the girl child; protection of the child by birds; Kanva bringing the child and naming her Shakuntala.
• Shakuntala and Dushyanta’s Gandharva marriage; approval by Kanva.
• Birth of a son to Shakuntala; Shakuntala arriving at Dushyanta’s palace with her son; conversation between Dushyanta and Shakuntala; through a divine voice, Dushyanta accepting Shakuntala and performing Bharata’s coronation as crown prince.
• A brief history of the descendants of Bharata’s lineage.

• Kacha becoming a disciple of Shukracharya; disturbance caused by the Rakshasas; finally Shukracharya teaching him the Sanjeevani Vidya.
• Devayani’s attempt to marry Kacha; Kacha’s refusal; mutual cursing.
• Quarrel between Devayani and Sharmishtha; Yayati lifting Devayani from the well; conversation between Devayani and Shukracharya.
• Shukracharya’s advice to Devayani; Devayani’s disagreement.
• Vrishaparva requesting Shukracharya to remain in the kingdom of the Rakshasas; according to Vrishaparva’s order, Sharmishtha becoming Devayani’s servant.
• Devayani and Sharmishtha’s forest outing; King Yayati’s arrival; conversation between Yayati and Devayani; marriage of Yayati and Devayani.
• Devayani receiving children from Yayati; secret love between Sharmishtha and Yayati; birth of a son.
• Conversation between Devayani and Sharmishtha; Shukracharya’s curse; Yayati receiving untimely old age.
• Yayati asking his sons to accept his old age and give him their youth; four sons refusing; curse given to them; Puru’s acceptance; the king blessing him and obtaining youth.
• King Yayati enjoying worldly pleasures; developing detachment; crowning Puru and going to the forest.
• Yayati’s penance; attaining heaven.
• Explanation of the teachings given by Yayati to Puru according to Indra’s request.
• Yayati falling from heaven; conversation with Ashtaka.
• Conversation between Yayati and Ashtaka.
• Appendix.