Mahabharata
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The Mahabharata, that is, the great Bharata, is one of the two most important ancient epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. The Mahabharata was compiled in Ancient India. One of the Indian sages (rishi) named Vyasa is believed to have composed the work. The legend states that god Ganesh wrote the Mahabharata while Vyasa dictated the same. It is possibly one of the longest work of its kind in the world. The epic contain about 110,000 couplets in eighteen sections. There is also a 19th section named harivamsha. The Bhagavadgita, a dialogue between Krishna and Arjun, is a part of the Mahabharata.
The Mahabharata in its eighteen sections deals with a number of topics. These topics cover a number of aspects of Hinduism, Hindu mythology, ethics, and the Hindu way of life. One more section is called Harvamsha.
Noted below are few words about the eighteen sections of the Mahabharata. In Mahabharata, these sections are called parvan. A parvan means a book. The names of all parvas or books of the Mahabharata are noted below:
- Name of the first book is Adiparvan, meaning the book of the beginning.
- Name of the second book is Sabhaparvan, meaning the book of meeting or assembly.
- Name of the third book is Vanaparava, meaning the book of the forest.
- Name of the fourth book is Virataparvan, meaning the book of Virata.
- Name of the fifth book is Udyogaparvan, meaning the book of efforts.
- Name of the sixth book is Bhishmaparva, meaning the book of Bhishma.
- Name of the seventh book is Dronaparva, meaning the book of Drona.
- Name of the eighth book is Karnaparva, meaning the book of Karna.
- Name of the ninth book is Shalyaparva, meaning the book of Shalya.
- Name of the tenth book is Saupatikaparvan, telling about the attack by three Kauravas on Pandavas.
- Name of the eleventh book is Striparvan, meaning the book of the women.
- Name of the twelfth book is Shantiparva, meaning the book of the peace.
- Name of the thirteenth book is Ashvamedhikaparvan, meaning the book of Ashvamedha.
- Name of the fourteenth book is Ashramavasikaparvan, meaning book of the Ashram.
- Name of the sixteenth book is Mausalaparvan, meaning that is the book of the clubs.
- Name of the seventeenth book is Mahaprasthanikparvan, meaning the book of the great stay.
- Name of the eighteenth book is Svargarohanaparvan, meaning book of going to the heaven.
- Name of the nineteenth book is Harivamsha.
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