Shalya Parva

Shalya Parva

The Shalya Parva (Sanskrit: शल्य पर्व), or the Book of Shalya, is the ninth of eighteen books of the Indian epic Mahabharata. Shalya Parva has 4 sub-books and 64 chapters.

Shalya Parva describes the appointment of Shalya as the fourth commander-in-chief of the Kaurava alliance, on the 18th day of the Kurukshetra War. The parva recites Salya's death, how Duryodhana becomes mortally wounded and out of the entire Kaurava army, only 3 survive. Shalya parva also describes how Pandavas and Krishna are victorious in the war, but lament the enormous toll of the 18-day war on human lives on both sides. The book mentions the anger and hatred among survivors on the Kauravas side, particularly Duryodhana, Aswatthama, Kritavarman and Kripa.

This Parva (book) has 4 sub-parvas (sub-books or little books) and 64 adhyayas (sections, chapters). The following are the sub-parvas:

1. Shalya-vadha parva (Chapters: 1-22)
2. Shalya parva (Chapters: 23-27)
3. Hrada-praveca parva (Chapters: 28-29)
4. Gadayuddha parva (Chapters: 30-64)

After three commander-in-chiefs of Kauravas army slain, Shalya is appointed the leader. He too is killed, as is Shakuni. Millions more soldiers die on the last day of war. Duryodhana in anguish leaves the battlefield, and goes to a lake. Bhima meets him there, challenges him to a battle. Bhima mortally wounds Duryodhana by crushing his thighs.

Out of 11 Akshauhinis of the Kauravas, only survivors are mortally injured Duryodhana along with Aswatthama, Kritavarman and Kripa. From Pandavas army, all five brothers, Krishna, 2000 chariots, 700 elephants, 5000 horsemen and 10000 foot soldiers survive. Shalya parva describes the war as over with a heavy toll on human lives, Pandavas are victorious, yet a desire for revenge is brewing in Duryodhana, Aswatthama, Kritavarman and Kripa.

Shalyavadha Parva

This is the 74th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the ninth (Shalya Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva of mainly describes the killing of Shalya by Yudhishthira in the forenoon of the 18th day of Mahabharata war.

This Upa Parva has a total of 844 Shlokas organized into 16 Chapters.  Click to See...

Hridapravesha Parva

This is the 75th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the ninth (Shalya Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva of mainly describes Duryodhana entering the lake after all his armies including 11 of his remaining brothers, Shakuni and Uluka were killed in the battle, in the afternoon of the 18th day of Mahabharata war.

This Upa Parva has a total of 664 Shlokas organized into 12 Chapters.  Click to See...

Saraswata Parva

This is the 76th of the 100 Upa Parvas (Sections) of the original VyasaMahabharata, located within the 9th Mahaparva (Shalya Parva). This Upa Parva starts with the Pandavas coming to know that Duryodhana has been hiding in lake Dvaipayana. Duryodhana comes out of the lakes, in response to Yudhishthira's rebukes and invitation to fight. When the club fight between Duryodhana and Bhima was about to begin, Balarama, Krishna's elder brother, who has been on a pilgrimage with the Vrishni heroes. The major part of this Upa Parva describes the various Tirthas visited by Balarama, and the events that made these Tirthas worth visiting.

This Upa Parva has a total of 1261 Shlokas organized into 25 Chapters.  Click to See...

Gadayuddha Parva

This is the 77th of the 100 Upa Parvas situated in the ninth (Shalya Parva) of the 18 Maha Parvas in the Vyasa Mahabharata. As the name suggests, this Upa Parva mainly describes the club fighting between Bhima and Duryodhana and the fall of the latter, on the 18th day of Mahabharata war.

This Upa Parva has a total of 546 Shlokas organized into 11 Chapters.  Click to See...

Posted in: