Contents:
Sambhava Parva – Jatugriha Parva – Hidimba Vadha Parva – Baka Vadha Parva – Chaitraratha Parva

Sambhava Parva

• Conversation between Ashtaka and Yayati.
• Conversation between Ashtaka and Yayati (Duties of the Ashrama).
• Conversation between Ashtaka and Yayati (Yayati’s refusal to accept the fruits of others’ merits).
• Yayati’s conversation with Vasumanta and Shibi; ascent of Ashtaka and others to heaven along with Yayati.
• Description of the Puru lineage.
• Description of the Puru lineage, Bharata lineage, and Pandu lineage.
• Brahma’s curse to Mahabhisha; conversation of Goddess Ganga with the cursed Vasus.
• Birth of Shantanu.
• Birth of Bhishma.
• Vasishta’s curse to the Vasus.
• Description of Shantanu’s qualities; Devavrata’s Bhishma vow.
• Birth of Chitrangada and Vichitravirya; death of Chitrangada by Shantanu; coronation of Vichitravirya.
• Bhishma abducting the daughters of the King of Kashi; defeat of Shalva; marriage of Vichitravirya; his death.
• Satyavati requesting Bhishma for the purpose of producing children; Bhishma’s refusal.
• Story of Dirghatamas.
• Arrival of Vyasa upon Satyavati’s invitation; Vyasa agreeing to produce children from Vichitravirya’s wives according to his mother’s request for the growth of the Kuru lineage.
• Birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura through Vyasa’s blessing.
• Animandavya episode (Mandavya’s being impaled).
• Mandavya’s curse to Yama Dharma.
• Birth of Dhritarashtra and others; all-round development of Kuru Kingdom through Bhishma’s righteous administration.
• Marriage of King Dhritarashtra.
• Durvasa teaching a mantra to Kunti; birth of Karna; Karna giving his armour and earrings to Indra.
• Kunti’s Swayamvara.
• Marriage of Pandu with Madri; Pandu’s conquest of directions.
• Pandu’s forest life with his wives; Vidura’s marriage.
• Birth of Duryodhana and others.
• Birth story of Duhshala.
• Names of Dhritarashtra’s children.
• Pandu killing the sage who had taken the form of a deer and the sage’s curse.
• Pandu’s repentance; accepting the Vanaprastha Ashrama.
• Pandu’s desire for children; discussion with Kunti.
• Story of Vyushitashva.
• Pandu and Kunti’s inquiry into Dharma.
• Birth of Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna.
• Birth of Nakula and Sahadeva; naming ceremony and other rites of Pandu’s sons.
• Death of Pandu; Madri’s self-immolation.
• The sages bringing Kunti and the sons of Pandu to Hastinapura and leaving them with Bhishma and others.
• Final rites of Pandu and Madri.
• Ambika, Ambalika, and Satyavati entering the forest and their end; childhood sports of the Kauravas and Pandavas; Duryodhana’s jealousy; poisoning of Bhima.
• Kunti’s distress due to Bhima’s disappearance; Bhima’s return from the Nagaloka; Duryodhana’s wickedness.
• Birth stories of Kripa, Drona, and Ashwatthama; Parashurama giving weapons and divine weapons to Drona.
• Drona’s insult by Drupada; Drona’s arrival at Hastinapura.
• Education of the princes under Drona; Ekalavya’s devotion to his teacher; examination of the disciples.
• Arjuna hitting the target; Drona giving the great weapon Brahmashira as a reward.
• Display of the princes’ skills with divine weapons in the arena.
• Display of Bhima, Duryodhana, and Arjuna’s excellence.
• Karna’s entry into the arena; Duryodhana’s coronation of Karna as the King of Anga.
• Bhimasena insulting Karna; Duryodhana honouring him.
• Drona defeating Drupada through his disciples and obtaining half of Drupada’s kingdom.
• Yudhishthira’s coronation as crown prince; Dhritarashtra’s concern due to the rise of the Pandavas.
• Kanika’s advice on political strategy to Dhritarashtra.

Jatugriha Parva

• The affection of the citizens towards the Pandavas; Duryodhana’s concern.
• Duryodhana’s discussion with Dhritarashtra about sending the Pandavas to Varanavata.
• The Pandavas travelling to Varanavata according to Dhritarashtra’s order.
• Construction of the house of lac by Purochana in Varanavata according to Duryodhana’s command.
• The Pandavas’ journey to Varanavata; Vidura’s secret message.
• Grand welcome to the Pandavas at Varanavata; Purochana’s hospitality; arrangement of residence in the house of lac; conversation between Yudhishthira and Bhima.
• Construction of a tunnel by Vidura’s friend.
• Burning of the house of lac; the Pandavas’ escape.
• The Pandavas crossing the Ganga through the boat sent by Vidura.
• Dhritarashtra and others showing false grief after hearing the news of the Pandavas’ death; funeral rites being performed for the Pandavas; meanwhile the Pandavas’ life in the forest.
• Bhima bringing water for the thirsty Kunti; Bhima’s sorrow for the suffering of his mother and brothers; anger towards Duryodhana.

Hidimba Vadha Parva

• Hidimbi’s arrival; conversation of love with Bhima.
• Hidimba’s arrival; battle between Bhima and Hidimba.
• Hidimbi expressing her wish to Kunti; Bhima killing Hidimba.
• Bhima attempting to kill Hidimbi; Yudhishthira stopping him; Hidimbi’s request for love; marriage of Bhima and Hidimbi; birth of Ghatotkacha.
• The Pandavas meeting Vyasa; journey to Ekachakra city.

Baka Vadha Parva

• Conversation between Kunti and Bhima for removing the suffering of a Brahmana; the Brahmana’s expression of sorrow.
• The Brahmani’s request to give up her life.
• The Brahmana daughter’s willingness to sacrifice herself; words of wisdom; Kunti’s arrival.
• The Brahmana explaining the reason for his sorrow to Kunti.
• Conversation between Kunti and the Brahmana.
• Kunti’s discussion with Yudhishthira about sending Bhima to Bakasura.
• Bhima taking the food provisions and going to Bakasura; battle between Bhima and Bakasura; death of Bakasura.
• Happiness of the citizens due to the killing of Bakasura.

Chaitraratha Parva

• Listening to a wonderful story from a visiting Brahmana.
• Drona’s insult of Drupada.
• Drupada’s sacrifice; birth of Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi.
• The Pandavas travelling to Panchala city with Kunti.
• Vyasa narrating the story of Draupadi’s previous birth.
• The Pandavas’ journey to Panchala country; battle with Chitraratha; defeat of the Gandharva; friendship with Arjuna.
• Samvarana’s attraction towards Tapati, the daughter of the Sun.
• Conversation between Tapati and Samvarana.
• Samvarana obtaining Tapati with the help of Vasishta.
• The Gandharva narrating the greatness of Vasishta.
• Vasishta’s extraordinary quality of forgiveness; defeat of Vishwamitra who was proud of his strength.
• Kalmashapada becoming a Rakshasa due to Shakti’s curse; Kalmashapada, who became a Rakshasa through Vishwamitra’s influence, consuming the sons of Vasishta; Vasishta’s grief over his sons.
• Liberation of Kalmashapada from the curse; obtaining a son named Ashmaka through Vasishta’s blessing.
• Birth of Parashara; Parashara’s anger after hearing the news of his father’s death; Vasishta narrating the Aurva episode to console him.
• The ancestors calming Aurva’s anger.
• Conversation between Aurva and the ancestors; Aurva releasing the fire of anger into the ocean.
• Completion of the Rakshasa sacrifice by Parashara according to Pulastya’s advice.
• The effect of the Brahmani’s curse on Kalmashapada.
• Dhaumya accepting to become the priest of the Pandavas.
• Appendix and a brief introduction and greatness of the Mahabharata.