Mahabharata

The great epic of Vyāsa. Its original name is “Jaya” (“Victory”). It contains the Bhagavad-gītā (Bhīṣma-parva) and is one of the key sources of Vedic philosophy.

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Āśramavāsika-parva (The Book of the Hermitage)

Chapters 1–20 of 47

1Chapter 1 — Pāṇḍavas honour the blind king6 verses

15.1.1-3 15.1.4-7 15.1.8-11 15.1.12-15 15.1.16-20 15.1.21-25

2Chapter 2 — Yudhiṣṭhira's decree of honour3 verses

15.2.1-4 15.2.5-9 15.2.10-13

3Chapter 3 — The old king's love for the Pāṇḍavas4 verses

15.3.1-4 15.3.5-9 15.3.10-13 15.3.14-17

4Chapter 4 — Bhīma's boasting and the king's despair4 verses

15.4.1-4 15.4.5-9 15.4.10-12 15.4.13-15

5Chapter 5 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks leave for the forest5 verses

15.5.1-5 15.5.6-9 15.5.10-13 15.5.14-17 15.5.18-23

6Chapter 6 — Yudhiṣṭhira's grief and the king's swoon7 verses

15.6.1-5 15.6.6-9 15.6.10-15 15.6.16-17 15.6.18-22 15.6.23-26 15.6.27-28

7Chapter 7 — The king revives; Vyāsa approaches4 verses

15.7.1-5 15.7.6-10 15.7.11-15 15.7.16-19

8Chapter 8 — Vyāsa grants the king leave6 verses

15.8.1-5 15.8.6-9 15.8.10-13 15.8.14-17 15.8.18-19 15.8.20-22

9Chapter 9 — The king's counsel on statecraft5 verses

15.9.1-6 15.9.7-12 15.9.13-18 15.9.19-23 15.9.24-26

10Chapter 10 — The king's counsel on rule continues4 verses

15.10.1-4 15.10.5-8 15.10.9-12 15.10.13-16

11Chapter 11 — The circle of kings and the six measures6 verses

15.11.1-3 15.11.4-6 15.11.7-9 15.11.10-13 15.11.14-16 15.11.17-19

12Chapter 12 — War, victory, and the protection of subjects6 verses

15.12.1-4 15.12.5-9 15.12.10-13 15.12.14-17 15.12.18-20 15.12.21-23

13Chapter 13 — The king takes leave of his people7 verses

15.13.1-3 15.13.4-7 15.13.8-9 15.13.10-12 15.13.13-16 15.13.17-20 15.13.21-22

14Chapter 14 — The king begs the people's forgiveness6 verses

15.14.1-3 15.14.4-6 15.14.7-9 15.14.10-12 15.14.13-16 15.14.17

15Chapter 15 — The people answer through the brahmin Sāmba7 verses

15.15.1-5 15.15.6-9 15.15.10-12 15.15.13-16 15.15.17-20 15.15.21-23 15.15.24-26

16Chapter 16 — Sāmba on fate; the people are dismissed7 verses

15.16.1-5 15.16.6-9 15.16.10-12 15.16.13-15 15.16.16-18 15.16.19-23 15.16.24-27

17Chapter 17 — Bhīma's resentment over the king's request7 verses

15.17.1-5 15.17.6-8 15.17.9-14 15.17.15-17 15.17.18-19 15.17.20-22 15.17.23

18Chapter 18 — All is set at the king's disposal3 verses

15.18.1-4 15.18.5-8 15.18.9-12

19Chapter 19 — Vidura relays the message; the king resolves on the gift5 verses

15.19.1-4 15.19.5-7 15.19.8-10 15.19.11-13 15.19.14-15

20Chapter 20 — The great festival of giving5 verses

15.20.1-4 15.20.5-6 15.20.7-9 15.20.10-13 15.20.14-17