Adi Parva in Mahabharata

The Adi Parva, or “The Book of the Beginning”, is the first book of the 18 parvas of Mahabharata, written by Vyasa. It lays the foundation for the entire story of the Mahabharata.

The Adi Parva consists of 19 sub parvas, or sub books. Each upa parva or sub-parva is also called a parva and is divided further into chapters. There are almost 236 chapters in the Adi Parva. The following are the details of the sub-parvas of the Adi Parva:

1.Anukramanika Parva

In this Parva, the Mahabharata is depicted to be recited by Sauti, also known as Ugrashravas. Sauti is known popularly to recite many of the Hindu epics, like Mahabharata, Bhagvata Puranas, Padma Purana, and the Harivamsa. In general, he recites these tales and scriptures to sages gathered in the Naimisha Forest. In this Parva, sages gather in a forest and meet Sauti and express their keen interest in hearing the story of the Mahabharata. Sauti also stresses upon the significance of the Mahabharata and how it contains all the knowledge of the worlds and the Gods, and how it can shape one’s character as a virtuous human being.

2. Sangraha Parva

The Sangraha Parva contains the well-structured outline of the indices and contents of all the 18 books of the Mahabharata.

3. Paushya Parva

The Paushya Parva contains the stories of the popular sages Utanka, Paushya, Janamejaya, Aruni and Dhaumaya.

4. Pauloma Parva

This parva has accounts of the stories of Pauloma and Chyavana, and the story of the lives of the Bhargava race and Ruru.

5. Astika Parva

The Astika Parva contains the story of the birth of Astika, and also Mahabharata’s take on how the world was created after churning of the oceans. This Parva contains theories on the advent of dharma and ahimsa, with respect to snakes and Janamejya.

6. Advinasavatarana Parva

This is the first sub-parva where the Pandava and Kaurava dynasties are mentioned. It contains the entire history of the Pandava and Kuru princes, and also the epic stories of Karna, Satyavati, Vasudeva and Animandavya. This parva thus also depicts the disorder present on the Earth, and the requests to Lord Brahma to reinstate order and peace to all the life forms. This Parva appealed the lords to save the Earth from the ongoing chaos.

7. Sambhava Parva

This parva is one of the longest in the Adi Parva. This contains detailed accounts of many stories of life forms on Earth and also stories of the Gods. This Parva has the epic tale of the romance between Dushyanta and Shakuntala, how they met, their marriage and the birth of their son, Bharata. Dushyanta had initially refused to recognize the son, and denies the marriage, but then later he realizes his love, and apologizes to her. Their son, Bharata even becomes prince. Besides this, it contains the stories of the Paurava race, Devyani, Yadu and Puru. Kunti’s swayamvara and the marriages of Madri and Vidura are a part of the Sambhava Parva. Further, this story contains the story of retreat of the Pandava brothers into the forest after their persecution by King Dhritarashtra.

8. Jatugriha-daha Parva

This parva too is one of the longest upa parvas of the Adi Parva. It has accounts of Kanika’s counsel to Dhritarashtra on running the Kingdom. Kanika was a shrewd and cunning minister and gave all sorts of ill advice to Dhritarashtra on governance, administration and war. He used to advise him that a King should ignore his own weaknesses and find out the weaknesses of other people and use it for his own advantage. Upon his advice, Dhritarashtra even builds a home with inflammable material for the Pandavas in the forest, as a friendly gesture, but had planned to set it on fire in the darkest nights. This plan was highly criticized and ridiculed by the sage Vidura, but still Dhritarashtra went ahead with the plan, but the Pandavas escaped the hut successfully with the help of the pre information given by Vidura, who was a good friend of the Pandavas. Dhritarashtra, however was convinced that the Pandavas were burnt to death.

9. Hidimba Vadha Parva

After escaping the fire, the Pandava brothers wandered around in the forests. This Parva has some tales after their escape, however, the major highlight in this Parva was the love story of Bhima and Hidimbi, after he killed her demon brother Hidimba. Hidimba was demon who used to forcefully steal potions of people’s food. After Bhima heard about the problems he was creating, he fought with him and killed. He then fell in love with her sister, Hidimbi and married her. They even have a son named Ghatotkacha.

10. Vaka Vadha Parva

This Parva is based on the life of the Pandava brothers in Ektachakra, The highlight in this Parva is again Bhima slaying one of the demons, Vaka. Vaka was another demon who was terrorizing the lives of the people of the village, Ektachakra. In this Parva, the origin of Draupadi is also shown, when she is born in holy fire. In this Parva, the rumor of Pandavas’ being alive started spreading.

11. Chiraratha Parva

This is the 11th sub-parva of the 19 sub parvas of Adi Parva. It contains the journey of the Pandavas from Ektachakra to Panchala. It also contains the story of the end of the Bhrigu race, along with the stories of the lives of Tapati, Vishvamitra and Vashishtha.

12. Swayamvara Parva

This Parva starts with the arrival of the Pandavas in Panchala. As the name ssuggests, this Parva primarily highlights the Swayamvara of Draupadi. The Pandava brothers had come to the swayamvara in disguise. Lord Krishna recognizes them in disguise. The Pandava brothers were successful in impressing Draupadi.

13. Vaivahika Parva

The name of this Parva means the book of Marriage, and contains the accounts of Draupadi’s marriage with the Pandava brothers.

14. Viduragamana Parva

This Parva contains the accounts of the efforts made by Vidura to reconcile the Pandava brothers with the evil Kaurava brothers. Even Bhishma, Karna, and Drona supported Vidura’s advice to build bridges with the Pandava brothers.

15. Rajya-labha Parva

This Parva narrates the epic return of the Pandavas to the kingdom of Hastinapura with the blessing of Lord Krishna himself. The people oof the city were delighted with their return and they worked on building the city again.

16. Arjuna-vanavasa parva

Arjuna leaves for voluntary exile in the forests after violating dharma. He even marries an apsara Ulupi, after rescuing her from a curse. This Parva is based on the character development and the special powers of Arjuna. It also highlights on the development of the friendship between Krishna and Arjuna. He even goes to Dwarka to live with Krishna.

17. Subhadara-harana Parva

This Parva continues the accounts of the relationship between Krishna and Arjuna. It focuses on Arjuna’s love affair with Subhadra, Krishna’s sister. Arjuna was very attracted to her. The Vrishni army of Krishna was upset with this act of Arjuna, but still forgave him later.

18. Harana-harika Parva

With the permission of Krishna himself, Arjuna kidnapped Subhadra and brought her to Indraprastha. They got married and gave birth to a son, Abhimanyu. This parva also has details of accounts of the five sons born to Draupadi namely, Prativindhya, Srutasoma, Satanika, Srutakirti and Srutasena.

19. Khandava-daha Parva

This Parva contains the stories of Agni, Varuna and Indra. It also has the fight of Krishna and Arjuna with the celestial powers, It thus showed their expertise and skills as a warrior.