1 | Adi Parv | Maharaja Shantanu Marries the Celestial Ganga | According to the historical records of this earth, there once lived a King named Maharaja Shantanu, the son of Pratipa, who took his birth in the solar dynasty and was considered naradeva, the manifest representative of the Supreme Lord on earth. His fame and rule extended to all parts of the world.… |
2 | Adi Parv | Maharaja Shantanu and Devavrata | Many, many years passed, and Maharaja Shantanu had to learn to live in separation from his wife and son. One while chasing a deer along the bank of the Ganges, the King noticed that the river had become shallow. He had never seen this before, and he sought the cause. While searching along the river… |
3 | Adi Parv | Bhishma Abducts Three Princesses | In due course, Maharaja Shantanu's Queen, Satyavati, bore a highly qualified son named Chitrangada. He was blessed with invincible power and was destined to become a renowned archer. Later, another son was born to Satyavati, named Vichitravirya. He developed into a natural leader and heroic warrior.… |
4 | Adi Parv | Bhishma Battles Parashurama | After receiving consent from Maharaja Bhishma, Princess Amba left the city of Hastinapura, and traveled to the province where King Salwa ruled. She was granted an interview and bowing before him she pleaded, "I have come to take shelter of your mighty arms, O brave King. Please accept me as your que… |
5 | Adi Parv | The Birth of Dhritarastra, Pandu and Vidura | After the last funeral rites were performed for Vichitravirya, Satyavati wept and lamented for her deceased son. Ambika and Ambalika were also greatly overwhelmed at the untimely death of their husband. Upon realizing the possible extinction of the dynasty, Satyavati approached Bhishma requesting hi… |
6 | Adi Parv | The Pandavas are Born | Upon the birth of Dhritarastra, Pandu, and Vidura, the earth prospered. There was an abundant harvest of crops, and all the trees were ladened with fruits and flowers. The seasons arrived and passed on time, and there was ample rainfall in the land of Bharatvarsha. The people became learned, brave a… |
7 | Adi Parv | The Poisoned Cake | After King Pandu's demise, the sages in the forest assembled and discussed the future of Kunti and her sons. The rishis decided that the Pandavas, along with their mother, should live in Hastinapura and take shelter of Grandfather Bhishma and the Kuru elders. The sages had great compassion upon the … |
8 | Adi Parv | The Preceptor Drona | Seeing the princes enter adolescence, Maharaja Bhishma began searching for a suitable teacher to tutor them in the science of warfare. One the heroic princes came out of Hastinapura. to play ball, and they roamed the forest areas absorbed in the ecstasy of young boys. When the ball fell into a well… |
9 | Adi Parv | The Curse of Parashurama | As stated in chapter six of the Adi Parva, Kunti, before her marriage to Pandu, had conceived a child by the Surya, the sun god. Due to fear of her relatives, she placed the child in a basket and set it afloat on the river Ganges. The child was picked up by Adhiratha, a well known carpenter and char… |
10 | Adi Parv | The Tournament of Arms | When Dronacharya saw that his students had been sufficiently educated, he assembled the Kuru elders and informed them, "O best of the Kuru kings, your children have now completed their education. I suggest there be a tournament of arms where the youths may display their prowess.
"O invincible brahm… |