Mahabharata Adi Parva in English
The burning of Khandava Forest The Pandavas, after they had taken up their abode at Indraprastha at the command of Dhritarashtra and Bhishma began to bring other kings under their sway. All the subjects lived most happily depending upon Yudhishthira the just, like a soul living happily depending upon a…
Arjuna goes on a twelve-year exile The Pandavas, having obtained their kingdom, at the command of Dhritarashtra, passed their days in joy and happiness at Khandavaprastha with Krishna. Yudhishthira. endued with great energy and ever adhering to truth, having obtained the sovereignty, virtuously ruled the land, assisted by his brothers.…
The Pandavas get a share of their ancestral kingdom The news was carried unto all the monarchs by their trusted spies that the handsome Draupadi had been united in marriage with the sons of Pandu. They were also informed that the illustrious hero who had bent the bow and shot…
The Killing of Baka Those mighty car-warriors, the sons of Kunti, on arriving at Ekachakra, lived for a short time in the abode of a Brahmana. Leading an eleemosynary life, they behold in course of their wanderings various delightful forests and earthly regions, and many rivers and lakes, and they…
The killing of Hidimba Not far from the place where the Pandavas were asleep, a Rakshasa by name Hidimba dwelt on the Sala tree. Possessed of great energy and prowess, he was a cruel cannibal of visage that was grim in consequence of his sharp and long teeth. He was…
The burning of house of lac After the expiration of a year from this, Dhritarashtra, moved by kindness for the people, installed Yudhishthira, as the heir-apparent of the kingdom on account of his firmness, fortitude, patience, benevolence, frankness and unswerving honesty (of heart). Within a short time Yudhishthira, by his…
Kripa, Drona, the tournament and Guru-dakshina Meanwhile, the king Dhritarashtra, beholding the Kuru princes passing their time in idleness and growing naughty, appointed Gautama as their preceptor and sent them unto him for instruction. Born among a clump of heath, Gautama was well-skilled in the Vedas and it was under…
The birth and childhood of Kauravas and Pandavas A little while after his return from Digvijaya, Pandu, accompanied by his two wives, Kunti and Madri, retired into the woods. Leaving his excellent palace with its luxurious beds, he became a permanent inhabitant of the woods, devoting the whole of his…
[spacer height=”20px”] How Dharma was born as Vidura due to Mandayva’s curse There was a Brahmana known by the name of Mandavya. He was conversant with all duties and was devoted to Dharma, truth and asceticism. The great ascetic used to sit at the entrance of his hermitage at the…
Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura Bhishma declines Satyavati’s suggestion to beget children on Vichitravirya’s widows The unfortunate Satyavati then became plunged in grief on account of her son. After performing with her daughters-in-law the funeral rites of the deceased, consoled, as best she could, her weeping daughters-in-law and Bhishma. Turning her…