Aranyaka (Vana) Parva
The third Major Book of The Mahabharata, The Book of the Forest, displays in a grand manner of what the India epic is capable. Its rich contents can be divided into two large blocks: the vicissitudes of the Pandavas in their forest exile and episodes relating to the main narrative on the one hand, and, on the other, the manifold narratives to which their sojourn in the forest gives occasion.
Corresponding to these two interwoven parts of the Book has traditionally two names, the Vanaparvan, The Book of the Forest, and Aaranyakaparvan, The Book of the Forest Teachings.
In the first group, that of the "forest" proper, are included the Pandavas' encounter with the demon Kirmira and his slaying; Dhritarashtra's worries and temporary breach with Vidura; the arrival of Krishna into the forest to meet with the Pandavas; the admonitions addressed by Draupadi and Bhima to Yudhishthira, Arjuna's encounter with Lord Shiva and receiving the Pashupata weapon, Arjuna's journey to the world of Indra to receive other divine weapons; Bhima's search for the Saugandhika flowers and his encounter with his half brother Hanuman; the cattle expeditions of the Kauravas; and the riddles of the crane. The second group comprises the story of Nala; the accounts of pilgrimages to the sacred places, and the many episodes that are inspired by the actual one; the battle with the Nivatakavachas, the Sessions with Markandeya, and the stories of Rama and Savitri related by Markandeya.
Though one can hardly imagine that in a more original form the Vana Parva had the same size as in the present, it can also not be doubted that it always formed an important part of Mahabharata. It is not in the Indian style to send heroes off to the forest and then to continue, "After twelve years they came back." The romance of the forest is too gripping and the theme of the prince exiled to the wilds too popular. While it is unprofitable to speculate on the "original" contents of Vana Parva, it is likely that the romance of the wild, its danger and its peace, figured importantly in it. Even its present bulk has a nice propriety about it; twelve years is a long time, and as one goes on reading, he does get a sense of the length of time that the Pandavas were exiled from their kingdom.
More than anything, the Vana Parva serves to build up the character of Yudhishthira. It is taken for granted throughout that he lives in the forest as a result of deception and that few would blame him if he assailed his deceivers before they could consolidate their power. It is the recurrent theme of Bhima's recriminations. Draupadi's recurrent theme is that of vengeance for the wrongs done to herself. Krishna's people and the Panchalas, the family of Draupadi, are fully prepared to take on Hastinapura in the cause of Yudhishthira. Faced with all these temptations, the kind Dharma remains firm: he patiently points out that all that is very well, but that he had given his word and pledged to be gone for thirteen years; it is simply his fate. From this point of view, the Vana Parva is the celebration of the highest value in the moral code of the ancient Indians, truthfulness and faithfulness under all circumstances.
An important effect of Yudhishthira's firm faith is the solidarity of the family. There is never talk of splitting up. Yudhishthira had only pledged his own forest life, not that of his wife and brothers. Draupadi might well have chosen to wait out the term in Ahichhatra of Panchala with her own family, just as Arjuna's other wife Subhadra does in leaving for Dwaraka where her family lives. Draupadi's brother Dhrishtadyumna takes her sons to Panchala; she might well have considered that her place was with them rather than in the forest with her husbands, to whom she could only be a burden.
The question of separation is never raised, though to others their solidarity is astonishing. The Pandavas act as one organism whose limbs it is impossible to amputate. However much of a strain the enforced idleness is for Bhima, and however much it rankles with Draupadi that her honor remains unavenged, they do not threaten to leave. Arjuna is a partial exception, for he is gone a good deal of the time. But whatever one may think of his journey to the world of Indra, where he stays on for five years, he did go after all in order to obtain the weapons that will make possible their eventual triumph.
While Vana Parva celebrates the unshakable truthfulness of Yudhishthira, at the same time it points up the enormity of the Kauravas' wickedness. the latter not only have caused the exile but add to their infamy by even now plotting to raid the Pandavas and once and for all eliminate their possible threat. Their cattle expedition, on the pretense of which they seek out the exiled brothers, fails seriously at the hands of the Gandharvas, from whom Yudhishthira has to rescue them. The magnanimity of the king Dharma illustrates another high value of the ancient Indians; generosity-which here is also paired with the respect so often shown to the Kshatriya injunction that one should spare him who takes refuge with one.
It appears that one of the functions of the Vana Parva is to establish these ideals and illustrate them in Yudhishthira's character. He has always been called the King Dharma, but we have not really seen many instances of his law-mindedness. It is by withstanding in the forest nearly irresistible temptations that he shows his character, and his brothers and wife theirs.
Aranya Parva
This is the 29th of the 100 Upa Parvas, situated in the third of the 18 Maha Parvas (Vana Parva) of the original Mahabharata composed in Sanskrit by Vyasa. This Upa Parva mainly describes the early days of the Pandavas' forest exile, the worship of Lord Surya by Yudhishthira to obtain a boon to sustain the large entourage of Brahmins following him in the forest, and Rishi Maitreya's curse to Duryodhana.
The Upa Parva has a total of 328 Shlokas organized in 11 Chapters. Click to See...
Kirmiravadha Parva
This is the 30th of the 100 Upa Parvas, situated in the third of the 18 Maha Parvas (Vana Parva) of the original Mahabharata composed in Sanskrit by Vyasa. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the killing of Rakshasa Kirmira by Bhimasena in the Kamyaka forests, as it was narrated Vidura to Dhritarashtra.
Kairata Parva
This is the 31st of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes Arjuna's encounter with Lord Shiva in the disguise of a hunter (Kirata) and obtaining from the latter the Pashupata weapon.
This Upa Parva has a total of 1150 Shlokas organized into 30 Chapters. Click to See...
Indralokabhigamana Parva
This is the 32nd of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes Arjuna's journey to the heavens - the realm of Indra and the Gods. The popular story of Nala and Damayanti (Nalopakhyana) is a part of this Upa Parva.
This Upa Parva has a total of 1175 Shlokas organized into 37 Chapters. Click to See...
Tirthayatra Parva
This is the 33rd of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the pilgrimage of the Pandavas, led by Lomasha, to ease their exile without Arjuna. Included in this Upa Parva are the numerous stories associated with places, kings, and sages.
Jatasuravadha Parva
This is the 34th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa This Upa Parva has a total of 727 Shlokas organized into 18 Chapters. Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the killing of Rakshasa Jatasura by Bhima.
This Upa Parva has only one Chapter with 61 Shlokas. Click to See...
Yakshayuddha Parva
This is the 35th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the fighting of Bhima with the Yakshas. Click to See...
Ajagara Parva
This is the 36th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the event in which Bhima was captured by a boa, and later was rescued by Yudhishthira.
This Upa Parva has a total of 201 Shlokas organized into 6 Chapters. Click to See...
Markandeyasamasya Parva
This is the 37th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the discourses by Muni Markandeya to the Pandavas, while in exile.
This Upa Parva has a total of 1704 Shlokas organized into 43 Chapters. Click to See...
Draupadi-Satyabhama Samvada Parva
This is the 38th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the conversation between Draupadi and Satyabhama regarding the former's marital life.
This Upa Parva has a total of 88 Shlokas organized into 3 Chapters. Click to See...
Ghoshayatra Parva
This is the 39th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the expedition of the Kauravas to their cattle stations near the forest dwelling of the Pandavas.
This Upa Parva has a total of 607 Shlokas organized into 19 Chapters. Click to See...
Mrigaswapnodbhava Parva
This is the 40th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes Yudhishthira's dream in which the forest deers plead him to move to other forests, in order to prevent their extinction.
This Upa Parva has only one Chapter with 16 Shlokas. Click to See...
Vrihidraunika Parva
This is the 41st of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. This Upa Parva mainly describes the story of Rishi Mudgala as told by Vyasa to Yudhishthira.
This Upa Parva has a total of 117 Shlokas organized into 3 Chapters. Click to See...
Draupadiharana Parva
This is the 42nd of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the abduction of Draupadi by Jayadratha. Two of the popular stories - Ramopakhyana and Savitri - are included in this Upa Parva, as narrated by Markandeya to Yudhishthira.
This Upa Parva has a total of 1362 Shlokas organized into 36 Chapters. Click to See...
Kundalaharana Parva
This is the 43rd of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the robbing of Karna's ear rings by Indra, in the disguise of a Brahmin.
This Upa Parva has a total of 294 Shlokas organized into 11 Chapters. Click to See...
Aaraneya Parva
This is the 44th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the third (Vana Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. This Upa Parva mainly describes the encounter of the Pandavas with Lord Dharma, popularly known as Yaksha Prashna. This is the last Upa Parva of Vana Parva, and with this ends the 12-year exile of the Pandavas.
This Upa Parva has a total of 191 Shlokas organized into 5 Chapters. Click to See...
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