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Vana Parva
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Vana Parva
The Vana Parva ("Book of the Forest") is the third of the eighteen parvas (books) of the Indian epic Mahabharata. Vana Parva traditionally has 21 parts and 324 chapters. The critical edition of Vana Parva contains 16 parts and 299 chapters.
The parva is a chronicle of the twelve-year journey of the Pandavas in a forest, where they learn life lessons and build character.
Vana Parva contains discourses on virtues and ethics; myths of Arjuna, Yudhishthara, and Bhima; and the tales of "Nahusha the Snake and Yudhishthira" and "Ushinara and the Hawk". It also includes the love stories of "Nala and Damayanti" and "Savitri and Satyavan".
The Vana Parva traditionally has 21 upa-parvas (parts, little books) and 324 adhyayas (chapters).
The Pandavas are exiled to the forest of Kamyaka. A group of Brahmanas follows the Pandavas to the forest, Yudhisthira prays to Surya, who grants him the boon of supplying food for thirteen years. A sage named Saunaka consoles Yudhisthira. Vidura advises Dhritarashtra to recall Yudhishthira and give him back his kingdom. Dhritarashtra refuses, so Vidura leaves and joins the Pandava brothers. On request, Vidura again returns to Hastinapur. Vyasa counsels Dhritarashtra to make peace with the Pandavas; Maitreya comes to counsel Duryodhana, but he turns deaf-ear; Maitreya curses him to die at the hand of Bhima.
There is a battle between the man-eating demon Kirmira and the giant Pandava brother, Bhima. Kirmira is killed.
The Parva introduces Krishna and talks about his past accomplishments. Krishna criticizes gambling as one of four sins that ruin a man and laments being absent when Yudhishthira accepted a game of dice, because of dealing with the army of King Salwa. Yudhishthira expresses remorse and anguish for his gambling habit. Krishna suggests persuasion, followed by force if necessary, is appropriate to prevent one's friend before he commits a sinful act such as gambling. Draupadi appeals to Yudhishthira to wreak vengeance on the Kaurava (Kuru) brothers. The theory of forgiveness (e.g., when to forgive) is debated between various characters. The chapters also discuss anger and how it is destructive to a person and society. Draupadi and Yudhishthira debate over the cause and effect of actions (karma), free will, and destiny. Bhima and Yudhishthira argue over the definition of virtue (dharma), wealth (artha), and pleasure (kama). The arguments are left open-ended with no definite conclusion and the characters retire from the debate. Maharishi Vyasa arrives and shares the theory and knowledge of Pratismriti with the Pandavas. The Pandavas shift from Dwaitvana to the bank of river Saraswati. Arjuna leaves alone towards North, where he meets Indra, in the guise of a Brahmana who advises him to pray to Lord Shiva to obtain the celestial weapons.
Arjuna meditates and lives like an austere Rishi in the forest to gain knowledge. Due to his fierce penances, all Rishis went to the god Sthanu. Knowing Arjuna's desire, the god of Pinaka, disguised as Kirata, visit Arjuna, and is accompanied by Uma (his wife), spirits, and thousands of women. A boar attacks Arjuna but is struck down by two arrows. Arjuna and Kirata argue over who killed the boar. They battle each other, with Kirata remaining unharmed due to his divinity. After being depleted of arrows, Arjuna fights with his bow, which is snatched by Kirata. Arjuna's golden hilt sword breaks when he uses it to strike Kirata's head. They wrestle and Arjuna is deprived of his senses; when he awakens, Arjuna starts to worship Mahadeva by offering floral garlands. Sthanu reveals his true identity and blesses Arjuna with the knowledge of the Pasupata weapon. Indra and other deities visit Arjuna and provide him their weapons: Yama (lord of death) gives his mace, Varuna (lord of water) his divine noose, and Kubera (lord of treasures) his favorite weapon called "Antarddhana" (lit. "sleeping weapon").
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Vana Parva
The Vana Parva ("Book of the Forest") is the third of the eighteen parvas (books) of the Indian epic Mahabharata. Vana Parva traditionally has 21 parts and 324 chapters. The critical edition of Vana Parva contains 16 parts and 299 chapters.
The parva is a chronicle of the twelve-year journey of the Pandavas in a forest, where they learn life lessons and build character.
Vana Parva contains discourses on virtues and ethics; myths of Arjuna, Yudhishthara, and Bhima; and the tales of "Nahusha the Snake and Yudhishthira" and "Ushinara and the Hawk". It also includes the love stories of "Nala and Damayanti" and "Savitri and Satyavan".
The Vana Parva traditionally has 21 upa-parvas (parts, little books) and 324 adhyayas (chapters).
The Pandavas are exiled to the forest of Kamyaka. A group of Brahmanas follows the Pandavas to the forest, Yudhisthira prays to Surya, who grants him the boon of supplying food for thirteen years. A sage named Saunaka consoles Yudhisthira. Vidura advises Dhritarashtra to recall Yudhishthira and give him back his kingdom. Dhritarashtra refuses, so Vidura leaves and joins the Pandava brothers. On request, Vidura again returns to Hastinapur. Vyasa counsels Dhritarashtra to make peace with the Pandavas; Maitreya comes to counsel Duryodhana, but he turns deaf-ear; Maitreya curses him to die at the hand of Bhima.
There is a battle between the man-eating demon Kirmira and the giant Pandava brother, Bhima. Kirmira is killed.
The Parva introduces Krishna and talks about his past accomplishments. Krishna criticizes gambling as one of four sins that ruin a man and laments being absent when Yudhishthira accepted a game of dice, because of dealing with the army of King Salwa. Yudhishthira expresses remorse and anguish for his gambling habit. Krishna suggests persuasion, followed by force if necessary, is appropriate to prevent one's friend before he commits a sinful act such as gambling. Draupadi appeals to Yudhishthira to wreak vengeance on the Kaurava (Kuru) brothers. The theory of forgiveness (e.g., when to forgive) is debated between various characters. The chapters also discuss anger and how it is destructive to a person and society. Draupadi and Yudhishthira debate over the cause and effect of actions (karma), free will, and destiny. Bhima and Yudhishthira argue over the definition of virtue (dharma), wealth (artha), and pleasure (kama). The arguments are left open-ended with no definite conclusion and the characters retire from the debate. Maharishi Vyasa arrives and shares the theory and knowledge of Pratismriti with the Pandavas. The Pandavas shift from Dwaitvana to the bank of river Saraswati. Arjuna leaves alone towards North, where he meets Indra, in the guise of a Brahmana who advises him to pray to Lord Shiva to obtain the celestial weapons.
Arjuna meditates and lives like an austere Rishi in the forest to gain knowledge. Due to his fierce penances, all Rishis went to the god Sthanu. Knowing Arjuna's desire, the god of Pinaka, disguised as Kirata, visit Arjuna, and is accompanied by Uma (his wife), spirits, and thousands of women. A boar attacks Arjuna but is struck down by two arrows. Arjuna and Kirata argue over who killed the boar. They battle each other, with Kirata remaining unharmed due to his divinity. After being depleted of arrows, Arjuna fights with his bow, which is snatched by Kirata. Arjuna's golden hilt sword breaks when he uses it to strike Kirata's head. They wrestle and Arjuna is deprived of his senses; when he awakens, Arjuna starts to worship Mahadeva by offering floral garlands. Sthanu reveals his true identity and blesses Arjuna with the knowledge of the Pasupata weapon. Indra and other deities visit Arjuna and provide him their weapons: Yama (lord of death) gives his mace, Varuna (lord of water) his divine noose, and Kubera (lord of treasures) his favorite weapon called "Antarddhana" (lit. "sleeping weapon").
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