Mahabharata · Parva 3

Aranyaka (Vana) Parva

Āraṇyakaparvan

Complete · 315 adhyayas · 12,213 verses

The book of the forest: twelve years of exile, rich with embedded tales — Nala and Damayanti, Savitri and Satyavan, the Ramopakhyana — and closing with the Yaksha's questions.

Adhyayas

1The Pandavas Leave for the Forest47 v 2Shaunaka Teaches Yudhishthira Detachment84 v 3Yudhishthira Worships the Sun and Receives the Inexhaustible Vessel89 v 4Vidura Counsels Dhritarashtra and Is Sent Away26 v 5Vidura Joins the Pandavas in the Kamyaka Forest22 v 6Dhritarashtra Calls Vidura Back25 v 7Karna Urges an Attack on the Pandavas24 v 8Vyasa Counsels Dhritarashtra12 v 9Surabhi's Grief for Her Son23 v 10Maitreya Curses Duryodhana39 v 11Bhima Slays Kirmira75 v 12Draupadi's Lament to Krishna139 v 13Krishna Explains Why He Could Not Stop the Dice Game17 v 14Shalva Attacks Dvaraka22 v 15The Defences of Dvaraka22 v 16The Vrishni Princes Ride Out Against Shalva33 v 17Pradyumna Duels Shalva25 v 18Pradyumna Rebukes His Charioteer33 v 19Pradyumna Defeats Shalva27 v 20Krishna Battles Shalva over the Sea42 v 21Shalva's Illusion of Vasudeva's Fall30 v 22Krishna Destroys Saubha and Slays Shalva54 v 23The Citizens Bid the Pandavas Farewell16 v 24The Pandavas Enter the Dvaita Forest26 v 25Markandeya Recalls Rama19 v 26Baka Dalbhya on Brahmins and Kings25 v 27Draupadi's Lament in the Forest39 v 28Prahlada's Teaching on Forgiveness and Might38 v 29Yudhishthira in Praise of Forgiveness55 v 30Draupadi Reproaches the Ordainer43 v 31Yudhishthira Defends Dharma42 v 32Draupadi on the Need for Action62 v 33Bhima Urges War91 v 34Yudhishthira Holds to His Pledge22 v 35Bhima Urges War Without Waiting35 v 36Vyasa Gives Yudhishthira the Pratismriti Knowledge45 v 37Arjuna Sets Out to Win Indra's Weapons93 v 38Arjuna's Austerities on the Himalaya35 v 39Shiva as the Kirata Tests Arjuna85 v 40Arjuna Receives the Pashupata28 v 41The World-Guardians Give Arjuna Their Weapons50 v 42Arjuna Ascends to Heaven42 v 43Indra Welcomes Arjuna to Amaravati43 v 44Urvashi Curses Arjuna79 v 45Indra Sends Lomasha to Yudhishthira43 v 46Dhritarashtra Dreads Arjuna's Might41 v 47The Pandavas' Life in the Kamyaka Forest12 v 48Dhritarashtra's Dread and the Vows in the Forest45 v 49Bhima Urges War; Brihadashva Begins the Tale of Nala64 v 50The Golden Swan Carries Word Between Nala and Damayanti33 v 51The Gods Set Out for Damayanti's Svayamvara31 v 52Nala Goes as the Gods' Messenger26 v 53Damayanti's Answer to the Gods' Messenger31 v 54The Svayamvara: Damayanti Chooses Nala50 v 55Kali Vows to Ruin Nala15 v 56Kali Enters Nala; the Dicing with Pushkara20 v 57Damayanti Sends Her Children to Vidarbha26 v 58Nala Loses His Kingdom and Goes into the Forest37 v 59Nala Deserts the Sleeping Damayanti31 v 60Damayanti, the Python and the Hunter39 v 61Damayanti Searches the Forest132 v 62The Caravan Destroyed; Damayanti in the City of Chedi76 v 63Karkotaka Transforms Nala26 v 64Nala Enters Rituparna's Service as Bahuka20 v 65Sudeva Finds Damayanti in Chedi44 v 66Damayanti Is Recognised and Returns to Vidarbha28 v 67Damayanti's Message Is Carried Abroad22 v 68Parnada's News and Damayanti's Plan28 v 69Bahuka Yokes the Horses for Vidarbha39 v 70Kali Leaves Nala45 v 71Damayanti Hears the Chariot36 v 72Keshini Questions Bahuka31 v 73The Marvels of Bahuka28 v 74Nala and Damayanti Reunited58 v 75Rituparna Takes His Leave20 v 76Nala Wins Back His Kingdom34 v 77Nala Restored; Yudhishthira Receives the Secret of the Dice53 v 78The Pandavas Miss Arjuna in Kamyaka31 v 79Narada Visits the Pandavas; Bhishma Meets Pulastya26 v 80Pulastya on the Sacred Fords: Pushkara and the Western Pilgrimage128 v 81The Fords of Kurukshetra208 v 82Pulastya on the Sacred Fords: Gangadvara, Naimisha, Varanasi and Gaya163 v 83The Southern Fords, Prayaga, and the End of Pulastya's Teaching131 v 84Yudhishthira Asks Dhaumya for Another Forest21 v 85Dhaumya Describes the Sacred Places of the East28 v 86The Sacred Places of the South28 v 87The Sacred Places of the West17 v 88The Sacred Places of the North33 v 89Lomasha Brings Indra's Message26 v 90Arjuna's Charge to Lomasha; Yudhishthira Lightens His Train26 v 91The Brahmins Join the Pilgrimage; the Pandavas Set Out30 v 92Why the Unrighteous Prosper: Lomasha's Answer24 v 93From Naimisha to Gaya; the Sacrifices of King Gaya31 v 94Ilvala and Vatapi; the Birth of Lopamudra30 v 95Agastya Weds Lopamudra25 v 96Agastya Seeks Wealth from Three Kings20 v 97Agastya Digests Vatapi; the Birth of Dridhasyu39 v 98Parashurama Meets Rama and Loses His Splendour36 v 99Dadhicha Gives His Bones for the Thunderbolt25 v 100Indra Slays Vritra; the Kaleyas Hide in the Ocean23 v 101The Kaleyas Ravage the Hermitages; the Gods Seek Narayana27 v 102Vishnu and Brahma Send the Gods to Agastya25 v 103Agastya Halts the Vindhya; the Gods Ask Him to Drink the Ocean25 v 104Agastya Drinks the Ocean and the Kaleyas Are Slain21 v 105Brahma's Promise; Shiva's Boon to Sagara and the Birth of the Gourd25 v 106The Sixty Thousand Sons of Sagara and the Lost Sacrificial Horse31 v 107Kapila Burns the Sons of Sagara; Amshuman Recovers the Horse45 v 108Bhagiratha's Penance for the Ganga28 v 109The Descent of the Ganga22 v 110Mount Hemakuta and the Wrathful Rishabha22 v 111The Birth of Rishyashringa and the Drought in Anga37 v 112The Courtesan's Visit to Rishyashringa24 v 113Rishyashringa Describes His Visitor19 v 114Rishyashringa Comes to Anga and Weds Shanta25 v 115The Vaitarani and the Altar by the Sea31 v 116The Bride-Price of a Thousand Horses and the Birth of Jamadagni48 v 117Renuka's Lapse and the Slaying of Jamadagni30 v 118Parashurama Rids the Earth of Kshatriyas18 v 119Along the Southern Sea to Prabhasa: The Vrishnis Find the Pandavas23 v 120Balarama's Lament at Prabhasa22 v 121Satyaki Urges War; Yudhishthira Holds to His Word33 v 122Gaya's Sacrifices on the Payoshni26 v 123Sukanya Pierces Chyavana's Eyes27 v 124The Ashvins Restore Chyavana's Youth26 v 125Chyavana Defies Indra at Sharyati's Sacrifice25 v 126Chyavana Spares Indra; the Holy Places by the Yamuna26 v 127The Birth of Mandhata48 v 128Somaka's Only Son, Jantu21 v 129Somaka Shares His Priest's Hell22 v 130Markandeya's Hermitage and Shiva's Boon34 v 131Sacred Sites on the Yamuna and the Sarasvati23 v 132From Vinashana to Kashmir; the Testing of Ushinara Begins24 v 133Ushinara, the Hawk and the Dove36 v 134The Birth of Ashtavakra23 v 135Ashtavakra at Janaka's Gate32 v 136Ashtavakra Defeats Bandi43 v 137Yavakrita Wins His Boon from Indra61 v 138The Death of Yavakrita20 v 139Bharadvaja's Grief and Curse19 v 140Arvavasu Brings the Dead Back to Life30 v 141Lomasha's Warning and Blessing on the Road to Kailasa20 v 142Bhima Refuses to Turn Back29 v 143Yudhishthira Longs to See Arjuna29 v 144Naraka's Bones and the Boar Who Raised the Earth63 v 145The Storm on Gandhamadana23 v 146Draupadi Faints on the Mountain Road24 v 147Ghatotkacha Carries the Pandavas to Badari50 v 148The Saugandhika Lotus: Bhima Meets Hanuman102 v 149Bhima Cannot Lift Hanuman's Tail34 v 150Hanuman Tells the Story of Rama22 v 151Hanuman Describes the Four Ages41 v 152Hanuman Shows His Mighty Form and Teaches the Duties of the Classes54 v 153Hanuman’s Parting Boon; Bhima Sees the Saugandhika Forest33 v 154Bhima Reaches Kubera's Lotus Lake16 v 155Bhima Routs the Krodhavashas and Takes the Lotuses28 v 156Omens, and the Pandavas Rejoin Bhima at the Lake33 v 157A Voice Turns Yudhishthira Back from Gandhamadana21 v 158Bhima Slays Jatasura72 v 159The Journey to Gandhamadana102 v 160Arshtishena Welcomes the Pandavas33 v 161Bhima Storms Kubera's Peak and Slays Manimat85 v 162Kubera Comes to Gandhamadana65 v 163Kubera Counsels Yudhishthira40 v 164Dhaumya Describes Meru and the Course of the Sun41 v 165The Pandavas Wait for Arjuna on Gandhamadana20 v 166Arjuna Returns from Heaven14 v 167Indra Visits the Pandavas18 v 168Arjuna Tells of the Kirata and the Pashupata Weapon56 v 169Arjuna Tells of His Journey to Indra's Heaven62 v 170Indra's Fee: Arjuna Sets Out Against the Nivatakavachas26 v 171Arjuna Reaches the City Beneath the Sea24 v 172Arjuna Battles the Nivatakavachas29 v 173The Danavas' Sorcery and Matali's Fear30 v 174The Fall of the Nivatakavachas35 v 175Arjuna Destroys Hiranyapura84 v 176Indra's Gifts and Arjuna's Return17 v 177Narada Halts the Display of the Divine Weapons25 v 178The Pandavas Leave Gandhamadana23 v 179The Return Journey to Dvaitavana24 v 180The Python Seizes Bhima32 v 181Nahusha the Serpent and the Omens54 v 182The Serpent Nahusha Questions Yudhishthira38 v 183Nahusha Is Freed from the Curse52 v 184The Rains and the Autumn; the Return to Kamyaka18 v 185Krishna and Markandeya Come to Kamyaka52 v 186Markandeya on the Fruits of Deeds43 v 187The Greatness of Brahmins: The Sage Death Could Not Hold25 v 188Atri, Gautama and King Vainya38 v 189Sarasvati Instructs Tarkshya30 v 190Manu and the Fish56 v 191Markandeya on the Ages, the Dissolution and the Child on the Banyan144 v 192Narayana Reveals Himself to Markandeya58 v 193Markandeya Foretells the End of the Kali Age and the Coming of Kalki98 v 194The Return of the Krita Age and Markandeya's Counsel to Yudhishthira35 v 195Parikshit and the Frog Princess; Vamadeva's Horses83 v 196Baka and Indra: The Sorrows and Joys of the Long-Lived35 v 197Suhotra Yields the Road to Shibi9 v 198Yayati's Gift of a Thousand Cows6 v 199Vrishadarbha's Secret Vow13 v 200Shibi Saves the Dove from the Hawk28 v 201Narada's Verdict on Four Royal Brothers; Shibi Gives Up His Son27 v 202Indradyumna Is Restored to Heaven28 v 203Markandeya on Gifts, Hospitality and Purity129 v 204Udanka Praises Vishnu and Receives a Boon34 v 205Udanka Asks Brihadashva to Slay Dhundhu32 v 206Brihadashva Departs; the Slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha37 v 207Kuvalashva Slays Dhundhu43 v 208Yudhishthira Asks About the Greatness of Devoted Wives24 v 209Kaushika and the Devoted Wife51 v 210Kaushika Meets the Righteous Hunter63 v 211The Hunter on the Conduct of the Cultured40 v 212The Righteous Hunter on Violence and One's Own Duty39 v 213The Hunter on Karma, Rebirth and the Road to Liberation57 v 214The Road to Sin and the Elements of the World21 v 215The Five Elements and the Mastery of the Senses27 v 216The Three Gunas, the Vital Breaths and the Self56 v 217The Hunter Shows the Brahmin His Parents29 v 218The Hunter Sends Kaushika Home and Tells of His Former Birth31 v 219The Curse Softened, the Hunter on Grief, and Kaushika's Return38 v 220Angiras Takes the Place of Agni21 v 221The Children of Angiras and the Fires Descended from Brihaspati33 v 222Panchajanya, the Fire Born of Five Sages20 v 223The Sons of Bhanu and the Fires of Expiation31 v 224Agni Hides in the Waters; the Dhishnya Fires32 v 225Indra Rescues Devasena from Keshin16 v 226Devasena's Destined Husband and Agni's Desire41 v 227The Birth of Skanda40 v 228The Sages' Wives Cast Off; Indra Battles Skanda58 v 229Skanda Made Commander of the Gods and Wedded to Devasena59 v 230Skanda and the Mothers: The Grahas That Seize Children and Men60 v 231Svaha's Wish and Skanda's Parentage28 v 232Skanda Slays Mahisha89 v 233The Names of Skanda21 v 234Satyabhama Asks Draupadi How She Holds Her Husbands63 v 235Draupadi's Counsel to Satyabhama12 v 236Satyabhama Comforts Draupadi and Departs with Krishna18 v 237Dhritarashtra Laments over the Pandavas in the Forest31 v 238Karna and Shakuni Urge Duryodhana to Flaunt His Fortune25 v 239The Pretext of the Cattle Inspection24 v 240Dhritarashtra Reluctantly Allows the Cattle Expedition29 v 241The Gandharvas Bar the Way at Dvaitavana31 v 242Karna Routed by the Gandharvas36 v 243Duryodhana Taken Captive24 v 244Yudhishthira Orders Duryodhana's Rescue38 v 245The Pandavas Battle the Gandharvas21 v 246Arjuna Battles Chitrasena31 v 247Yudhishthira Frees Duryodhana31 v 248Karna Greets the Humbled Duryodhana14 v 249Duryodhana Tells Karna the Truth17 v 250Duryodhana Resolves to Fast unto Death42 v 251Karna Urges Duryodhana to Rise14 v 252The Danavas Summon Duryodhana to Rasatala31 v 253The Danavas' Promise and Duryodhana's Return53 v 254Bhishma's Rebuke and Karna's Vow of Conquest29 v 255Karna's Conquest of the World36 v 256The Vaishnava Sacrifice Proposed26 v 257Duryodhana's Vaishnava Sacrifice25 v 258Karna's Vow to Slay Arjuna31 v 259The Deer's Plea in a Dream17 v 260Vyasa Visits the Pandavas and Praises Giving38 v 261Durvasas Tests Mudgala38 v 262Mudgala Turns Away from Heaven53 v 263Durvasas Is Sent to the Pandavas27 v 264Krishna Saves the Pandavas from Durvasas47 v 265Jayadratha Sees Draupadi17 v 266Kotikashya Questions Draupadi14 v 267Draupadi Answers Kotikashya9 v 268Jayadratha Woos Draupadi29 v 269Draupadi Rebukes Jayadratha and Is Carried Off29 v 270The Pandavas Return and Give Chase33 v 271Draupadi Points Out Her Husbands22 v 272Jayadratha Routed and Put to Flight69 v 273Jayadratha Humbled and Shiva's Boon83 v 274Yudhishthira's Question to Markandeya13 v 275The Tale of Rama Begins: The Birth of Vaishravana17 v 276The Birth of Ravana and the Boons of Brahma40 v 277The Gods Are Born as Monkeys and Bears19 v 278Rama's Exile and Ravana's Wrath63 v 279Maricha's Deception and the Abduction of Sita45 v 280Jatayu Falls, and Rama Slays Kabandha48 v 281Vali Slain; Trijata Comforts Sita75 v 282Ravana Woos Sita in the Ashoka Grove30 v 283Hanuman Brings News of Sita71 v 284The Monkey Army Marches and the Bridge to Lanka54 v 285Angada's Embassy and the Storming of Lanka41 v 286Ravana Marches Out: The Single Combats15 v 287Prahasta and Dhumraksha Fall; Kumbhakarna Is Woken29 v 288Lakshmana Slays Kumbhakarna30 v 289Indrajit Fights Unseen and Fells Rama and Lakshmana27 v 290Lakshmana Slays Indrajit34 v 291Rama Slays Ravana with the Brahma Weapon33 v 292Sita's Ordeal and Rama's Return to Ayodhya71 v 293Markandeya Consoles Yudhishthira14 v 294The Birth of Savitri42 v 295Savitri Chooses Satyavan33 v 296The Marriage of Savitri and Satyavan23 v 297Savitri's Vow and the Fateful Day34 v 298Savitri Wins Back Satyavan from Yama114 v 299Savitri Returns and Tells the Sages45 v 300Dyumatsena Regains His Kingdom17 v 301Surya Warns Karna in a Dream39 v 302Surya Urges Karna to Keep His Earrings18 v 303Surya Tells Karna to Ask Indra for the Spear25 v 304Kuntibhoja Entrusts Pritha with the Brahmin's Care29 v 305Pritha Promises to Serve the Brahmin20 v 306The Brahmin Gives Pritha the Mantra23 v 307Kunti Summons the Sun28 v 308Kunti Yields to the Sun God28 v 309Kunti Sets Her Newborn Son Adrift29 v 310Adhiratha and Radha Find the Child Karna27 v 311Karna Gives Away His Armour and Earrings44 v 312The Brahmin's Fire-Sticks21 v 313The Brothers Fall at the LakeYaksha Prashna51 v 314The Yaksha's QuestionsYaksha Prashna136 v 315The Yaksha Reveals Himself as Dharma29 v