Mahabharata · Parva 1

Adi Parva

Ādiparvan

Complete · 260 adhyayas · 11,019 verses

The book of beginnings: how the epic came to be told, the origins of the Kuru line, the births of the Pandavas and Kauravas, the house of lac, Draupadi's svayamvara and the founding of Indraprastha.

Adhyayas

1Sauti at Naimisha and the Origin of the Bharata300 v 2Samantapanchaka and the Summary of the Parvas397 v 3Sarama's Curse and the Disciples of Dhaumya186 v 4Sauti Waits for Shaunaka11 v 5The Line of Bhrigu and the Rakshasa Puloman36 v 6The Birth of Chyavana and Bhrigu's Curse on Agni14 v 7Agni's Protest and Brahma's Remedy29 v 8Ruru and Pramadvara27 v 9Ruru Gives Half His Life to Pramadvara29 v 10Ruru Spares the Dundubha8 v 11Sahasrapat's Curse and the Teaching of Non-Violence19 v 12Ruru Hears of Astika from His Father9 v 13Jaratkaru Finds His Ancestors Hanging in a Pit32 v 14Vasuki Gives His Sister to Jaratkaru7 v 15The Birth of Astika11 v 16Kadru and Vinata; the Births of Aruna and Garuda27 v 17The Gods Take Counsel on Mount Meru13 v 18The Churning of the Ocean58 v 19Rahu Beheaded and the War of Gods and Asuras33 v 20The Wager of Kadru and Vinata19 v 21Kadru and Vinata Behold the Ocean18 v 22The Serpents Obey and the Sisters Fly over the Sea12 v 23The Birth of Garuda27 v 24Aruna Becomes the Sun's Charioteer23 v 25Kadru's Hymn to Indra17 v 26Indra Sends Rain on the Serpents8 v 27Garuda Asks the Price of His Mother's Freedom16 v 28Garuda Swallows the Nishadas25 v 29The Elephant and the Tortoise49 v 30Garuda Saves the Valakhilyas53 v 31Indra Mocks the Valakhilyas, and Garuda Is Born38 v 32Garuda Battles the Gods25 v 33Garuda Seizes the Amrita and Wins Vishnu's Boon26 v 34Garuda's Pact with Indra and the Freeing of Vinata32 v 35The Names of the Serpents19 v 36Shesha Upholds the Earth26 v 37The Serpents' Council34 v 38Elapatra's Counsel21 v 39Vasuki Keeps Watch for Jaratkaru14 v 40Parikshit and the Silent Sage32 v 41Shringin Curses Parikshit33 v 42Shamika's Warning and Kashyapa on the Road43 v 43Takshaka Turns Kashyapa Back and Bites Parikshit36 v 44Janamejaya Becomes King11 v 45Jaratkaru Finds His Ancestors Hanging in a Pit34 v 46Jaratkaru's Vow and Vasuki's Sister23 v 47Jaratkaru Marries and Departs43 v 48The Birth of Astika22 v 49Parikshit and the Silent Sage31 v 50Shringi's Curse and Janamejaya's Resolve54 v 51Preparing the Snake Sacrifice17 v 52The Serpents Fall into the Fire10 v 53The Priests of the Sacrifice and Vasuki's Plea26 v 54Astika Sets Out for the Snake Sacrifice30 v 55Astika Praises Janamejaya's Sacrifice17 v 56Astika's Boon28 v 57The Serpents Who Perished in the Fire24 v 58The Serpent Sacrifice Ends34 v 59Shaunaka Asks for the Bharata10 v 60Vyasa Comes to Janamejaya's Sacrifice24 v 61The Quarrel of the Kurus and Pandavas in Brief58 v 62The Merit of Hearing the Bharata56 v 63The Line of Puru, from Brahma to Janamejaya89 v 64Uparichara Vasu and the Births of Satyavati and Vyasa169 v 65The Burdened Earth Appeals to Brahma54 v 66The Origin of Gods, Asuras and Beings56 v 67The Lineages of Gods, Seers and Creatures77 v 68The Earthly Births of Gods and Asuras164 v 69Yayati's Line and the Exchange of Youth61 v 70Kacha Wins the Knowledge of Reviving the Dead80 v 71Devayani's Proposal and Kacha's Curse23 v 72Sharmishtha Throws Devayani into a Well55 v 73Shukra on Forbearance; Devayani on Wounding Words26 v 74Sharmishtha Becomes Devayani's Servant34 v 75Yayati Marries Devayani49 v 76Sharmishtha Wins Yayati43 v 77Shukra Curses Yayati with Old Age64 v 78Yayati Asks His Sons for Their Youth37 v 79Yayati Returns Puru's Youth and Crowns Him43 v 80Yayati's Austerities and Ascent to Heaven19 v 81Yayati Recounts His Counsel to Puru22 v 82Yayati's Pride and Fall from Heaven13 v 83Yayati Tells Ashtaka of His Fall23 v 84Yayati Tells Ashtaka of the Fall from Heaven and Rebirth27 v 85Yayati on the Stages of Life and the True Sage22 v 86Yayati Refuses the Worlds of Ashtaka and Pratardana22 v 87Yayati Ascends to Heaven with His Daughter's Sons50 v 88The Line of Puru down to Bharata19 v 89The Reign of King Dushyanta14 v 90Dushyanta Goes Hunting31 v 91Dushyanta Reaches Kanva's Hermitage53 v 92Dushyanta Meets Shakuntala57 v 93The Birth of Shakuntala29 v 94The Gandharva Marriage of Dushyanta and Shakuntala73 v 95The Birth of Sarvadamana36 v 96Kanva Sends Shakuntala to Dushyanta82 v 97Shakuntala Before Dushyanta32 v 98Shakuntala Pleads Her Case Before Dushyanta97 v 99Shakuntala Rebukes Dushyanta47 v 100Dushyanta Accepts Bharata40 v 101The Line of Bharata63 v 102The Curse of Mahabhishak and the Pact of the Vasus24 v 103Ganga Comes to Pratipa; the Birth of Shantanu60 v 104Ganga Becomes Shantanu's Wife16 v 105Ganga Drowns Her Sons19 v 106Vasishtha Curses the Vasus51 v 107Bhishma's Vow120 v 108The Sons of Shantanu and the Death of Chitrangada17 v 109Bhishma Wins the Daughters of Kashi99 v 110Amba's Garland and the Manhood of Shikhandi33 v 111Vichitravirya's Marriage and Death9 v 112Bhishma Refuses to Break His Vow27 v 113The Story of Dirghatamas56 v 114Satyavati Reveals the Birth of Vyasa80 v 115The Births of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura47 v 116The Impaling of Mandavya19 v 117Mandavya Curses Dharma20 v 118The Kuru Realm Flourishes; Pandu Becomes King33 v 119Gandhari Weds Dhritarashtra25 v 120The Birth of Karna55 v 121Kunti Chooses Pandu13 v 122Pandu Weds Madri and Conquers the Earth45 v 123The Curse of Kindama41 v 124Pandu Renounces the World51 v 125The Ascetics Turn Pandu Back20 v 126Vidura's Marriage and Pandu's Longing for Sons40 v 127Kunti Tells the Tale of Vyushitashva37 v 128Shvetaketu's Law and Kunti's Mantra68 v 129The Births of Yudhishthira, Bhima and Duryodhana89 v 130The Birth of Duhshala20 v 131The Names of Dhritarashtra's Hundred Sons19 v 132The Birth of Arjuna65 v 133The Birth of Nakula and Sahadeva58 v 134The Death of Pandu and Madri's Ascent of the Pyre116 v 135The Sages Bring the Pandavas to Hastinapura47 v 136The Funeral of Pandu and Madri35 v 137Satyavati Retires to the Forest; Duryodhana Turns against Bhima52 v 138Bhima Poisoned and Cast into the Water; the Nagas' Elixir42 v 139Bhima Returns from the Realm of the Nagas42 v 140The Births of Kripa, Drona and Ashvatthaman69 v 141Drupada Spurns Drona; Drona Comes to the Kurus80 v 142Drona's Pupils and Ekalavya's Thumb89 v 143Arjuna Hits the Mark and Wins the Brahmashiras27 v 144The Princes Show Their Skill in Arms46 v 145Arjuna's Display in the Arena33 v 146Karna Enters the Arena and Is Made King of Anga46 v 147Bhima Taunts Karna, and Duryodhana Defends Him25 v 148Drona's Fee: The Capture of Drupada82 v 149The Births of Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi76 v 150The Birth of Drupada21 v 151Yudhishthira Made Heir Apparent; Drona's Charge to Arjuna55 v 152Duryodhana Urges the Pandavas' Exile33 v 153Kanika's Counsel to Dhritarashtra111 v 154The Lac House in Brief; Duryodhana Presses Dhritarashtra40 v 155The Pandavas Are Sent to Varanavata22 v 156Duryodhana Instructs Purochana22 v 157Vidura's Veiled Warning33 v 158The Pandavas Reach Varanavata and Detect the House of Lac49 v 159Vidura's Digger and the Secret Tunnel20 v 160The Burning of the House of Lac28 v 161Vidura's Boat Carries the Pandavas Across the Ganga28 v 162The Kurus Mourn the Pandavas80 v 163Bhima Keeps Watch over His Sleeping Family54 v 164Hidimba Falls in Love with Bhima50 v 165Bhima Fights the Rakshasa Hidimba62 v 166Bhima Slays Hidimba45 v 167Hidimba Pleads for Bhima41 v 168Bhima and Hidimba; Vyasa Comes to the Pandavas52 v 169The Birth of Ghatotkacha23 v 170Vyasa Settles the Pandavas in Ekachakra15 v 171Life in Ekachakra and the Brahmin's Lament66 v 172The Brahmin's Wife Offers Herself50 v 173The Daughter's Plea and the Little Boy's Promise26 v 174The Brahmin Tells Kunti of Baka31 v 175Kunti Offers to Send Her Son20 v 176Kunti Answers Yudhishthira30 v 177Bhima Fights Baka86 v 178The Townsfolk Find Baka Slain30 v 179A Brahmin Guest Tells of Draupadi's Svayamvara12 v 180Drona and Drupada: The Broken Friendship32 v 181Drupada's Sacrifice: Dhrishtadyumna and Krishna Are Born60 v 182Drupada Proclaims Draupadi's Svayamvara36 v 183Kunti Proposes the Journey to Panchala12 v 184Vyasa Tells of Draupadi's Former Life16 v 185The Brahmins on the Road to Panchala21 v 186Arjuna Defeats the Gandharva Angaraparna84 v 187Tapati, Daughter of the Sun, Appears to Samvarana44 v 188Tapati Answers Samvarana26 v 189Vasishtha Wins Tapati for Samvarana56 v 190Vasishtha's Greatness and the Need for a Priest16 v 191Vasishtha's Cow and the Defeat of Vishvamitra61 v 192Kalmashapada's Curse and the Death of Vasishtha's Sons56 v 193Vasishtha Frees Kalmashapada49 v 194The Birth of Parashara and the Slaughter of the Bhrigus27 v 195The Birth of Aurva22 v 196Aurva Casts His Anger into the Sea23 v 197Parashara's Sacrifice Against the Rakshasas24 v 198The Brahmin Woman's Curse on Kalmashapada28 v 199The Pandavas Choose Dhaumya as Their Priest16 v 200Drupada's Challenge and Draupadi's Entry62 v 201Dhrishtadyumna Names the Suitors24 v 202The Kings Fail to String the Bow41 v 203Arjuna Pierces the Target and Draupadi Chooses Him35 v 204The Kings Rise Against Drupada26 v 205Arjuna and Bhima Hold Off the Kings69 v 206Yudhishthira's Resolve and Krishna's Visit29 v 207Dhrishtadyumna Watches the Pandavas18 v 208Drupada Sends His Priest to the Pandavas30 v 209The Pandavas at Drupada's Palace18 v 210Yudhishthira Reveals Who They Are33 v 211Vyasa Hears the Debate on Five Husbands24 v 212The Story of Nalayani28 v 213Nalayani's Curse and Rudra's Boon29 v 214The Five Indras and Draupadi's Former Births67 v 215Draupadi Weds the Five Pandavas29 v 216Kunti Blesses Draupadi; Krishna's Wedding Gifts19 v 217The Kauravas Take Counsel: Shakuni Urges War, Saumadatti Urges Peace45 v 218Battle before Drupada's City; Krishna and Balarama Come to Panchala75 v 219The Kauravas' Return and Dhritarashtra's Pretence38 v 220Duryodhana's Schemes Against the Pandavas22 v 221Karna Counsels Open Attack25 v 222Bhishma Advises Giving Half the Kingdom19 v 223Drona's Counsel and Karna's Retort28 v 224Vidura Counsels Reconciliation with the Pandavas32 v 225Vidura Goes to Drupada's Court28 v 226The Pandavas Return to Hastinapura45 v 227Yudhishthira Crowned and Indraprastha Built110 v 228Narada Visits the Pandavas52 v 229Sunda and Upasunda Win Brahma's Boon33 v 230Sunda and Upasunda Lay Waste the Worlds27 v 231The Creation of Tilottama34 v 232The Fall of Sunda and Upasunda; the Pandavas' Compact33 v 233Arjuna Breaks the Compact and Goes into Exile36 v 234Arjuna and Ulupi37 v 235Arjuna Marries Chitrangada28 v 236Arjuna and the Crocodile of Saubhadra23 v 237The Five Apsaras Freed and the Birth of Babhruvahana38 v 238Arjuna in an Ascetic's Guise Meets Krishna at Prabhasa42 v 239Arjuna Sees Subhadra at the Raivataka Festival28 v 240The Disguised Ascetic Is Lodged Near Subhadra31 v 241Arjuna Reveals Himself to Subhadra90 v 242Arjuna Weds Subhadra52 v 243Subhadra Drives Arjuna Out of Dvaraka38 v 244Arjuna Carries Off Subhadra; Balarama's Wrath59 v 245Krishna Defends Arjuna; Subhadra Drives Him Home36 v 246Subhadra Comes to Indraprastha as a Cowherd Girl33 v 247Subhadra's Dowry and the Birth of Abhimanyu85 v 248The Yamuna Outing and the Brahmin at Khandava45 v 249Agni's Request and the Tale of King Shvetaki85 v 250Brahma Sends Agni to Krishna and Arjuna; Arjuna Asks for Weapons21 v 251Agni Arms Arjuna and Krishna; the Burning of Khandava Begins38 v 252The Creatures of Khandava Perish; Indra Sends Rain22 v 253Arjuna and Krishna Fight Indra and the Gods52 v 254Indra Withdraws and Maya Is Spared47 v 255Mandapala and the Sharngaka Birds36 v 256Jarita's Lament23 v 257Jarita Leaves Her Sons18 v 258The Sharngaka Fledglings Praise Agni25 v 259Mandapala's Anxiety and the Reproaches of His Wives37 v 260Indra's Boons and the End of the Khandava Fire21 v