Mahabharata

The Mahabharata, attributed to the sage Vyasa, tells of the rivalry between the Pandavas and the Kauravas that ends in the Kurukshetra war, and contains the Bhagavad Gita. These guides summarise its eighteen parvas, profile the main characters, follow the war day by day and explain family trees and key terms. Verse references follow the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute critical edition; episodes found only in later versions or folk tradition are labelled as such.

Mahabharata

The Mahabharata for Children in Twelve Short Chapters

Which Mahabharata to Read: Editions and Translations Compared

Regional Mahabharatas: Tamil, Kannada, Odia, Bengali and More

Mahabharata Places Today: Kurukshetra, Hastinapur, Indraprastha and Dwarka

Mahabharata Quotes with Source and Meaning

The Kurukshetra War Day by Day

Mahabharata Family Tree: The Kuru Dynasty Explained

The Last Five Parvas of the Mahabharata

Shanti and Anushasana Parva: Bhishma's Teachings

Sauptika and Stri Parva Summary: After the War

Udyoga Parva Summary: Krishna's Peace Mission

Virata Parva Summary: The Year in Disguise

Vana Parva Summary: The Pandavas' Years in the Forest

Sabha Parva Summary: The Game of Dice

Adi Parva Summary: The Book of Beginnings

Barbarika (Khatu Shyam): Is He in the Mahabharata?

Shakuntala and Dushyanta: Mahabharata vs Kalidasa

Krishna in the Mahabharata: His Role, Book by Book

Akshauhini: How Big Were the Mahabharata Armies?

Nala and Damayanti: The Story from the Mahabharata

Nakula and Sahadeva: The Pandava Twins

Who Survived the Kurukshetra War? The Ten Warriors

Bhishma Parva Summary: The First Ten Days of the War

Abhimanyu and the Chakravyuha: The Thirteenth Day

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