Parvasangraha Parva

This is the second of the 100 Upa Parvas (Sections) in Adi Parva, the first of the 18 Maha Parvas (Books) of Vyasa Mahabharata. This Upa Parva lists the 100 Upa Parvas and summarizes the 18 Maha Parvas (Books) of the epic.

The Upa Parva starts with the questions by the Rishis listening to Suta Ugrashrava at Naimisharanya, regarding Samantapanchaka. Ugrashrava then describes the legend about this place, near Kurukshetra, where the Mahabharata war was fought. Accordingly, Rama, son of Jamadagni, also known as Parasurama, an Avatar of Vishnu, destroyed the Kashatriyas on earth, twenty one times, during the juncture between Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga. When he had annihilated the entire Kshatriya clan with his own might, he made five lakes filled with their blood in Samantapanchaka, and offered up bloody oblations to his ancestors. Thereupon, Richika and his other ancestors appeared to him and restrained him from his anger towards the Kshatriyas. It was at this same Samantapanchaka that at the juncture of Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga the war between the eighteen Akshouhini armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas was fought.

When asked about what an Akshouhini was, Suta Ugrashrava, defines it through the count of smallest units of an ancient army: “One “file” (Patti) is made up of five footmen, three horses, one chariot, and one elephant. Three files form one “troop head” (Senamukha); three troop heads one “cluster” (Gulma); three clusters one “troop” (Gana); three troops make up one “convoy” (Vahini). Three convoys together are called “column” (Pratha), three columns a “brigade” (Chamu), three brigades a “division” (Anikini) and ten of such divisions constitute one army or Akshouhini. Thus in one Akshouhini, there are 21,870 chariots, same number of elephants, 109,350 footmen and 65,610 horses. There were 18 such Akshouhinis in the armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas.

समॆतास्त्त्र वै दॆशॆ तत्रैव निधनं गताः। कौरवान् कारणं कृत्वा कालॆनाद्भुतकर्मणा॥ (Mahabharata 1:2:25)

Making the Kauravas its tool, the miraculous Time assembled those Kshatriyas at that same place – Samantapanchaka – and there they all died.

And the war lasted 18 days: 10 days did Bhishma fight, five days Drona fought, Karna fought for two days, Shalya lasted half a day, and so did the fall of Duryodhana, that followed. and at the end of the same, Kritavarma, Kripa and Ashvatthama slaughtered the remaining troops of Yudhishtira, who were sleeping unsuspectingly.

The basic building block of Mahabharata is a couplete or Shloka. Several such Shlokas form a Chapter or Adhyaya. Several Adhyayas form a Upa Parva or Section. Several Up Parvas form a Maha Parva or simply a Parva or a Book.

This Upa Parva lists the 100 Upa Parvas or Sections of Mahabharata. There are differences in this list of Upa Parvas, depending on the Mahabharata Recension that is used. The 100 Upa Parvas as described in the Parvasangraha Parva  of the Pune's Critical Edition are: (1) Anukramanika (2) Parvasangraha (3) Paushya (4) Pauloma (5) Astika (6) Adiamshavatarana (7) Sambhava (8) Jatugriha (9) Hidimbavadha (10) Bakavadha (11) Chaitraratha (12) Svayamvara (13) Vaivahika (14) Viduragama (15) Rajyalambha (16) Arjunavanavasa (17) Subhadraharana (18) Haranaharika (19) Khandavadaha (20) Sabha (21) Mantra (22) Jarasandhavadha (23) Digvijaya (24) Rajasuyika (25) Arghyabhiharana (26) Shishupalavadha (27) Dyuta (28) Anudyuta (29) Aranyaka (30) Kirmiravadha (31) Kairata (32) Indralokabhigamana (33) Tirthayatra (34) Jatasuravadha (35) Yakshayuddha (36) Ajagara (37) Markandeyasamasya (38) Draupadi-Satyabhamasamvada (39) Ghoshayatra (40) Mrigaswapnabhaya (41) Vrihidraunika (42) Draupadiharana (43) Kundalaharana (44) Araneya (45) Vairata (46) Kichakavadha (47) Gograhana (48) Vaivahika (49) Senodyoga (50) Sanjayayana (51) Prajagara (52) Sanatsujata (53) Yanasandhi (54) Bhagavadyana (55) Karnavivada (56) Senaniryana (57) Rathathirathasankhya (58) Ulukadutagamana (59) Ambopakhyana (60) Bhishmabhishechana (61) Jambhukhandavinirmana (62) Bhumi (63) Bhagavadgita (64) Bhishmavadha (65) Dronabhisheka (66) Samshaptakavadha (67) Abhimanyvadha (68) Pratigna (69) Jayadrathavadha (70) Ghatotkachavadha (71) Dronavadha (72) Narayanastramoksha (73) Karna (74) Shalya (75) Hridapravesha (76) Saraswata (77) Gadayuddha (78) Sauptika (79) Ishiki (80) Jalapradanika (81) Strivilapa (82) Shraddha (83) Abhishechanika (84) Charvakanigraha (85) Grihapravibhaga (86) Shanti (87) Apaddharma (88) Mokshadharma (89) Anushasana (90) Bhishmaswargarohana (91) Ashvamedhika (92) Anugita (93) Ashramavasika (94) Putradarshana (95) Naradagamana (96) Mausala (97) Mahaprasthanika (98) Swargarohana (99) Harivamsha (100) Bhavishya.

The Bombay Recension of Mahabharata (Nilakantha's) organizes the Mahabharata according to a somewhat different list of 100 Upa Parvas: it does not include Harivamsha and Bhavishya as Upa Parvas of Mahabharata, and separates them as Annexures to Mahabharata. Moreover, this list does not include Karvavahda, Shalyavadha as Upa Parvas. The 100 Upa Parvas as per the Nilakantha Recension of Mahabharata are: (1) Anukramanika (2) Parvasangraha (3) Paushya (4) Pauloma (5) Astika (6) Adivamshavatarana (7) Sambhava (8) Jatugriha (9) Hidimbavadha (10) Bakavadha (11) Chaitraratha (12) Svayamvara (13) Vaivahika (14) Viduragama (15) Rajyalambha (16) Arjunavanavasa (17) Subhadraharana (18) Haranaharika (19) Khandavadaha (20) Mayadarshana (21) Mantra (22) Lokapalasabhakhyana (23) Rajasuyaramba (24) Jarasandhavadha (25) Digvijaya (26) Rajasuyika (27) Arghyabhiharana (28) Shishupalavadha (29) Dyuta (30) Anudyuta (31) Aranya (32) Kirmira (33) Arjunabhigamana (34) Kairata (35) Indralokabhigamana (36) Nalopakhyana (37) Tirthayatra (38) Jatasuravadha (39) Yakshayuddha (40) Nivatakavachayuddha (41) Ajagara (42) Markandeyasamasya (43) Draupadi-Satyabhamasamvada (44) Ghoshayatra (45) Mrigaswapnabhaya (46) Vrihidraunika (47) Draupadiharana (48) Jayadrathavimoksha (49) Ramopakhyana (50) Pativratamahatmya (51) Kundalaharana (52) Araneya (53) Pandavapravesha (54) Samayapalana (55) Kichakavadha (56) Gograhana (57) Vaivahika (58) Senodyoga (59) Sanjayayana (60) Prajagara (61) Sanatsujata (62) Yana (63) Bhagavadyana (64) Senaniryana (65) Ulukadutagamana (66) Rathathirathasankyana (67) Ambopakhyana (68) Jambhukhandavinirmana (69) Bhumi (70) Bhagavadgita (71) Bhishmavadha (72) Dronabhisheka (73) Samshaptakavadha (74) Abhimanyvadha (75) Pratigna (76) Jayadrathavadha (77) Ghatotkachavadha (78) Dronavadha (79) Narayanastramoksha (80) Hridapravesha (81) Gadayuddha (82) Sauptika (83) Ishiki (84) Jalapradanika (85) Strivilapa (86) Shraddha (87) Rajadharmanushasana (88) Apaddharma (89) Mokshadharma (90) Danasharma (91) Bhishmaswargarohana (92) Ashvamedhika (93) Anugita (94) Vaishnavadharma (95) Ashramavasika (96) Putradarshana (97) Naradagamana (98) Mausala (99) Mahaprasthanika (100) Swargarohana.

However, the Critical Edition, in its current published form, has organized Mahabharata into only 98 Upa Parvas (instead of 100), including the two from Harivamsha, the list differs from its own Parvasangraha Parva.  My translations on this web site are organized in the way the Critical Edition is organized. These 98 Upa Parvas are listed below:

Adi Parva: (1) Anukramanika (2) Parvasangraha (3) Pauloma (4) Paushya (5) Astika(6) Adi-vamshavatarata (7) Sambhava (8) Jatugriha-daha (9) Hidimba-vadha (10) Baka-vadha (11) Chaitraratha (12) Draupadi-Svayamvara (13) Vaivahika (14) Viduragamana (15) Rajya-labha (16) Arjuna-vanavasa (17) Subhadra-harana (18) Haranaharika (19) Khandava-daha

Sabha Parva: (20) Sabha (21) Mantra (22) Jarasandha-vadha (23) Digvijaya (24) Rajasuya (25) Arghyabhiharana (26) Shishupala-vadha (27) Dyuta (28) Anudyuta

Aranyaka Parva: (29) Aranyaka (30) Kirmira-vadha (31) Kirata (32) Indralokabhigamana (33) Tirtha-yatra (34) Jatasura-vadha (35) Yaksha-yuddha (36) Ajagara (37) Markandeya-Samasya (38) Draupadi-Satyabhama-samvada (39) Ghoshayatra (40) Mriga-swapna-bhaya (41) Vrihi-draunika (42) Draupadi-harana (43) Kundala-harana (44) Araneya

Virata Parva: (45) Vairata (46) Kichaka-vadha (47) Go-grahana (48) Vaivahika

Udyoga Parva: (49) Udyoga (50) Sanjaya-yana (51) Prajagara (52) Sanatsujata (53) Yana-sandhi (54) Bhagavad-yana (55) Karnopanivada (56) Abhiniryana (57) Bhishmabhishechana (58) Uluka-yana (59) Rathathiratha-sankhyana (60) Ambopakhyana

Bhishma Parva: (61) Jambukhanda-vinirmana (62) Bhumi (63) Bhagavad-gita (64) Bhishma-vadha

Drona Parva: (65) Dronabhisheka (66) Samshaptaka-vadha (67) Abhimanyu-vadha (68) Pratigna (69) Jayadratha-vadha (70) Ghatotkacha-vadha (71) Drona-vadha (72) Narayanastra-moksha

Karna Parva: (73) Karna-vadha

Shalya Parva: (74) Shalya-vadha (75) Hrida-pravesha (76) Saraswata (77) Gadayuddha

Sauptika Parva: (78) Sauptika (79) Aishika

Stri Parva: (80) Vishoka (81) Stri (82) Shraaddha (83) Jala-pradanika

Shanti Parva: (84) Raja-dharma (85) Apad-dharma (86) Moksha-dharma

Anushasana Parva: (87) Dana-dharma (88) Bhishma-swargarohana

Ashvamedhika Parva:  (89) Ashvamedha

Ashramavasika Parva: (90) Ashrama-vasa (91) Putra-darshana (92) Naradagamana

Mausala Parva: (93) Mausala

Mahaprasthanika Parva: (94) Mahaprasthanika

Svargarohana Parva: (95) Svargarohana

Hari Vamsha: (96) Hari-vamsha (97) Vishnu (98) Bhavishya

The Parvasangraha Parva also summarizes each of the 18 Mahaparvas or Books of Mahabharata, along with the number of Adhyayas (Chapters) and Shlokas (verses) in them. The list of these 18 Mahaparvas is given below:

• Adi Parva: Book of the Beginnings - 218 Chapters and 7,984 verses
• Sabha Parva: Book of the Assembly Hall - 72 Chapters and 2,511 verses
• Vana Parva: Book of the Forest - 269 Chapters and 11,664 verses
• Virata Parva: Book of Virata - 67 Chapters and 2,050 verses
• Udyoga Parva: Book of the Effort - 186 Chapters and 6.696 verses
• Bhisma Parva: Book of Bhishma - 117 Chapters and 5,884 verses
• Drona Parva: Book of Drona - 170 Chapters and 8,909 verses
• Karna Parva: Book of Karna - 69 Chapters and 4,900 verses
• Shalya Parva: Book of Shalya - 59 Chapters and 3,220 verses
• Sauptika Parva: Book of the Sleeping Warriors - 18 Chapters and 870 verses
• Stri Parva: Book of the Women - 27 Chapters and 775 verses
• Shanti Parva: Book of the Peace - 339 Chapters and 14,525 verses
• Anushasana Parva: Book of the Instructions - 146 Chapters and 6,700 verses
• Ashwamedhika Parva: Book of the Hourse Sacrifice - 133 Chapters and 3,320 verses
• Ashramavasika Parva: The Sojourn in the Hermitage - 42 Chapters and 1,506 verses
• Mausala Parva: Book of the Clubs - 8 Chapters and 300 verses
• Mahaprasthanika Parva: Book of the Great Journey - 3 Chapters and 120 verses
• Swargarohana Parva: Book of Heaven - 5 Chapters and 200 verses

Thus the number of Shlokas in the Critical Edition of Mahabharata's 18 Parvas total to 73,784, short of 100,000 Shlokas the epic claims to have, in its first Upa Parva - Anukramanika. If we include the 6,073 Shlokas contained in Harivamsha, which is listed as a Khila or supplement to Mahabhrata, which is brought out as a part of the Critical Edition by the Bhandarkar Institute in Pune, we will yet be short of the 100,000 Shlokas.

The Mahabharata published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, provides a tally of number of Shlokas in its version of Mahabharata, which is largely based on Nilakantha Patha and which includes some useful Shlokas from the Southern Recension. Accordingly, the Gorakhpur publication has a total of 100,217 Shlokas, including 86,600 from the North Indian Recension, 6, 584 Shlokas from the South Indian Recension, and 7,033 "Uvacha" Shlokas.

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