Mahabharata: Volume 7 Read online

  TRANSLATED BY BIBEK DEBROY

  THE MAHABHARATA

  Volume 7

  (Sections 73 to 77)

  Contents

  About the Translator

  Dedication

  Family tree

  Map of Bharatavarsha

  Introduction

  Karna Parva

  SECTION SEVENTY-THREE

  KARNA-VADHA PARVA

  After Drona’s death, Karna is made the overall commander; Duryodhana asks Shalya to be Karna’s charioteer;Bhima kills Duhshasana and drinks his blood; Arjuna kills Karna

  Chapter 1151(1): 49 shlokas

  Chapter 1152(2): 20 shlokas

  Chapter 1153(3): 14 shlokas

  Chapter 1154(4): 108 shlokas

  Chapter 1155(5): 110 shlokas

  Chapter 1156(6): 46 shlokas

  Chapter 1157(7): 42 shlokas

  Chapter 1158(8): 45 shlokas

  Chapter 1159(9): 35 shlokas

  Chapter 1160(10): 36 shlokas

  Chapter 1161(11): 41 shlokas

  Chapter 1162(12): 71 shlokas

  Chapter 1163(13): 25 shlokas

  Chapter 1164(14): 64 shlokas

  Chapter 1165(15): 43 shlokas

  Chapter 1166(16): 38 shlokas

  Chapter 1167(17): 120 shlokas

  Chapter 1168(18): 76 shlokas

  Chapter 1169(19): 75 shlokas

  Chapter 1170(20): 32 shlokas

  Chapter 1171(21): 42 shlokas

  Chapter 1172(22): 61 shlokas

  Chapter 1173(23): 54 shlokas

  Chapter 1174(24): 161 shlokas

  Chapter 1175(25): 11 shlokas

  Chapter 1176(26): 74 shlokas

  Chapter 1177(27): 105 shlokas

  Chapter 1178(28): 66 shlokas

  Chapter 1179(29): 40 shlokas

  Chapter 1180(30): 88 shlokas

  Chapter 1181(31): 68 shlokas

  Chapter 1182(32): 84 shlokas

  Chapter 1183(33): 70 shlokas

  Chapter 1184(34): 42 shlokas

  Chapter 1185(35): 60 shlokas

  Chapter 1186(36): 40 shlokas

  Chapter 1187(37): 38 shlokas

  Chapter 1188(38): 42 shlokas

  Chapter 1189(39): 38 shlokas

  Chapter 1190(40): 130 shlokas

  Chapter 1191(41): 7 shlokas

  Chapter 1192(42): 57 shlokas

  Chapter 1193(43): 78 shlokas

  Chapter 1194(44): 55 shlokas

  Chapter 1195(45): 73 shlokas

  Chapter 1196(46): 48 shlokas

  Chapter 1197(47): 14 shlokas

  Chapter 1198(48): 15 shlokas

  Chapter 1199(49): 115 shlokas

  Chapter 1200(50): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1201(51): 110 shlokas

  Chapter 1202(52): 33 shlokas

  Chapter 1203(53): 14 shlokas

  Chapter 1204(54): 29 shlokas

  Chapter 1205(55): 73 shlokas

  Chapter 1206(56): 58 shlokas

  Chapter 1207(57): 69 shlokas

  Chapter 1208(58): 28 shlokas

  Chapter 1209(59): 45 shlokas

  Chapter 1210(60): 33 shlokas

  Chapter 1211(61): 17 shlokas

  Chapter 1212(62): 62 shlokas

  Chapter 1213(63): 83 shlokas

  Chapter 1214(64): 32 shlokas

  Chapter 1215(65): 45 shlokas

  Chapter 1216(66): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1217(67): 37 shlokas

  Chapter 1218(68): 63 shlokas

  Chapter 1219(69): 43 shlokas

  Shalya Parva

  SECTION SEVENTY-FOUR

  SHALYA-VADHA PARVA

  Shalya is appointed the supreme commander of the Kourava army; Yudhishthira kills Shalya and Shalya’s younger brother

  Chapter 1220(1): 52 shlokas

  Chapter 1221(2): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1222(3): 50 shlokas

  Chapter 1223(4): 50 shlokas

  Chapter 1224(5): 27 shlokas

  Chapter 1225(6): 41 shlokas

  Chapter 1126(7): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1227(8): 46 shlokas

  Chapter 1228(9): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1229(10): 56 shlokas

  Chapter 1230(11): 63 shlokas

  Chapter 1231(12): 45 shlokas

  Chapter 1232(13): 45 shlokas

  Chapter 1233(14): 41 shlokas

  Chapter 1234(15): 67 shlokas

  Chapter 1235(16): 87 shlokas

  SECTION SEVENTY-FIVE

  HRADA-PRAVESHA PARVA

  Bhima kills Duryodhana’s remaining brothers; Sahadeva kills Shakuni; Duryodhana enters a lake and hides there

  Chapter 1236(17): 39 shlokas

  Chapter 1237(18): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1238(19): 26 shlokas

  Chapter 1239(20): 36 shlokas

  Chapter 1240(21): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1241(22): 88 shlokas

  Chapter 1242(23): 64 shlokas

  Chapter 1243(24): 56 shlokas

  Chapter 1244(25): 37 shlokas

  Chapter 1245(26): 54 shlokas

  Chapter 1246(27): 63 shlokas

  Chapter 1247(28): 92 shlokas

  SECTION SEVENTY-SIX

  TIRTHA YATRA PARVA

  It is discovered that Duryodhana is hiding in Lake Dvaipayana; Bhima and Duryodhana prepare to fight; Balarama returns from his pilgrimage to witness the encounter

  Chapter 1248(29): 66 shlokas

  Chapter 1249(30): 68 shlokas

  Chapter 1250(31): 60 shlokas

  Chapter 1251(32): 52 shlokas

  Chapter 1252(33): 18 shlokas

  Chapter 1253(34): 81 shlokas

  Chapter 1254(35): 53 shlokas

  Chapter 1255(36): 63 shlokas

  Chapter 1256(37): 50 shlokas

  Chapter 1257(38): 33 shlokas

  Chapter 1258(39): 32 shlokas

  Chapter 1259(40): 35 shlokas

  Chapter 1260(41): 39 shlokas

  Chapter 1261(42): 41 shlokas

  Chapter 1262(43): 52 shlokas

  Chapter 1263(44): 110 shlokas

  Chapter 1264(45): 95 shlokas

  Chapter 1265(46): 29 shlokas

  Chapter 1266(47): 61 shlokas

  Chapter 1267(48): 23 shlokas

  Chapter 1268(49): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1269(50): 51 shlokas

  Chapter 1270(51): 26 shlokas

  Chapter 1271(52): 21 shlokas

  Chapter 1272(53): 37 shlokas

  SECTION SEVENTY-SEVEN

  GADA YUDDHA PARVA

  Bhima and Duryodhana fight with clubs, where, Bhima strikes Duryodhana unfairly and brings him down; Krishna goes to Hastinapura and pacifies Dhritarashtra and Gandhari

  Chapter 1273(54): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1274(55): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1275(56): 67 shlokas

  Chapter 1276(57): 59 shlokas

  Chapter 1277(58): 24 shlokas

  Chapter 1278(59): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1279(60): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1280(61): 40 shlokas

  Chapter 1281(62): 73 shlokas

  Chapter 1282(63): 43 shlokas

  Chapter 1283(64): 43 shlokas

  Footnotes

  Introduction

  SECTION SEVENTY-THREE

  KARNA-VADHA PARVA

  After Drona’s death, Karna is made the overall commander; Duryodhana asks Shalya to be Karna’s charioteer;Bhima kills Duhshasana and drinks his blood; Arjuna kills Karna

  Chapter 1151(1): 49 shlokas

  Chapter 1152(2): 20 shlokas

  Chapter 1153(3): 14 shlokas

  Chapter 1154(4): 108 shlokas

  Chapter 1155(5): 110 shlokas

  Chapter 1156(6): 46 shlokas

  Chapter 1157(7): 42 shlokas

  Chapter 1158(8): 45 sh
lokas

  Chapter 1159(9): 35 shlokas

  Chapter 1160(10): 36 shlokas

  Chapter 1161(11): 41 shlokas

  Chapter 1162(12): 71 shlokas

  Chapter 1163(13): 25 shlokas

  Chapter 1164(14): 64 shlokas

  Chapter 1165(15): 43 shlokas

  Chapter 1166(16): 38 shlokas

  Chapter 1167(17): 120 shlokas

  Chapter 1168(18): 76 shlokas

  Chapter 1169(19): 75 shlokas

  Chapter 1170(20): 32 shlokas

  Chapter 1171(21): 42 shlokas

  Chapter 1172(22): 61 shlokas

  Chapter 1173(23): 54 shlokas

  Chapter 1174(24): 161 shlokas

  Chapter 1175(25): 11 shlokas

  Chapter 1176(26): 74 shlokas

  Chapter 1177(27): 105 shlokas

  Chapter 1178(28): 66 shlokas

  Chapter 1179(29): 40 shlokas

  Chapter 1180(30): 88 shlokas

  Chapter 1181(31): 68 shlokas

  Chapter 1182(32): 84 shlokas

  Chapter 1183(33): 70 shlokas

  Chapter 1184(34): 42 shlokas

  Chapter 1185(35): 60 shlokas

  Chapter 1186(36): 40 shlokas

  Chapter 1187(37): 38 shlokas

  Chapter 1188(38): 42 shlokas

  Chapter 1189(39): 38 shlokas

  Chapter 1190(40): 130 shlokas

  Chapter 1191(41): 7 shlokas

  Chapter 1192(42): 57 shlokas

  Chapter 1193(43): 78 shlokas

  Chapter 1194(44): 55 shlokas

  Chapter 1195(45): 73 shlokas

  Chapter 1196(46): 48 shlokas

  Chapter 1197(47): 14 shlokas

  Chapter 1198(48): 15 shlokas

  Chapter 1199(49): 115 shlokas

  Chapter 1200(50): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1201(51): 110 shlokas

  Chapter 1202(52): 33 shlokas

  Chapter 1203(53): 14 shlokas

  Chapter 1204(54): 29 shlokas

  Chapter 1205(55): 73 shlokas

  Chapter 1206(56): 58 shlokas

  Chapter 1207(57): 69 shlokas

  Chapter 1208(58): 28 shlokas

  Chapter 1209(59): 45 shlokas

  Chapter 1210(60): 33 shlokas

  Chapter 1211(61): 17 shlokas

  Chapter 1212(62): 62 shlokas

  Chapter 1213(63): 83 shlokas

  Chapter 1214(64): 32 shlokas

  Chapter 1215(65): 45 shlokas

  Chapter 1216(66): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1217(67): 37 shlokas

  Chapter 1218(68): 63 shlokas

  Chapter 1219(69): 43 shlokas

  Chapter 1220(1): 52 shlokas

  Chapter 1221(2): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1222(3): 50 shlokas

  Chapter 1223(4): 50 shlokas

  Chapter 1224(5): 27 shlokas

  Chapter 1225(6): 41 shlokas

  Chapter 1126(7): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1227(8): 46 shlokas

  Chapter 1228(9): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1229(10): 56 shlokas

  Chapter 1230(11): 63 shlokas

  Chapter 1231(12): 45 shlokas

  Chapter 1232(13): 45 shlokas

  Chapter 1233(14): 41 shlokas

  Chapter 1234(15): 67 shlokas

  Chapter 1235(16): 87 shlokas

  Chapter 1236(17): 39 shlokas

  Chapter 1237(18): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1238(19): 26 shlokas

  Chapter 1239(20): 36 shlokas

  Chapter 1240(21): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1241(22): 88 shlokas

  Chapter 1242(23): 64 shlokas

  Chapter 1243(24): 56 shlokas

  Chapter 1244(25): 37 shlokas

  Chapter 1245(26): 54 shlokas

  Chapter 1246(27): 63 shlokas

  Chapter 1247(28): 92 shlokas

  Chapter 1248(29): 66 shlokas

  Chapter 1249(30): 68 shlokas

  Chapter 1250(31): 60 shlokas

  Chapter 1251(32): 52 shlokas

  Chapter 1252(33): 18 shlokas

  Chapter 1253(34): 81 shlokas

  Chapter 1254(35): 53 shlokas

  Chapter 1255(36): 63 shlokas

  Chapter 1256(37): 50 shlokas

  Chapter 1257(38): 33 shlokas

  Chapter 1258(39): 32 shlokas

  Chapter 1259(40): 35 shlokas

  Chapter 1260(41): 39 shlokas

  Chapter 1261(42): 41 shlokas

  Chapter 1262(43): 52 shlokas

  Chapter 1263(44): 110 shlokas

  Chapter 1264(45): 95 shlokas

  Chapter 1265(46): 29 shlokas

  Chapter 1266(47): 61 shlokas

  Chapter 1267(48): 23 shlokas

  Chapter 1268(49): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1269(50): 51 shlokas

  Chapter 1271(52): 21 shlokas

  Chapter 1272(53): 37 shlokas

  Chapter 1273(54): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1274(55): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1275(56): 67 shlokas

  Chapter 1276(57): 59 shlokas

  Chapter 1277(58): 24 shlokas

  Chapter 1278(59): 44 shlokas

  Chapter 1279(60): 65 shlokas

  Chapter 1280(61): 40 shlokas

  Chapter 1281(62): 73 shlokas

  Chapter 1282(63): 43 shlokas

  Chapter 1283(64): 43 shlokas

  Appendix

  Acknowledgements

  Follow Penguin

  Copyright Page

  About the Translator

  Bibek Debroy is an economist and is Research Professor (Centre of Policy Research) and a columnist with Economic Times. He has worked in universities, research institutes, industry and for the government. He has published books, papers and popular articles in economics. But he has also published in Indology and translated (into English) the Vedas, the Puranas, the Upanishads and the Gita (Penguin India, 2005). His book Sarama and her Children: The Dog in Indian Myth (Penguin India, 2008) splices his interest in Hinduism with his love for dogs. He is currently translating the remaining volumes of the unabridged Mahabharata.

  For Suparna

  Ardha bhāryā manuṣyasya bhāryā śreṣṭhatamaḥ sakhā

  Bhāryā mulam trivargasya bhāryā mitram mariṣyataḥ

  Mahabharata (1/68/40)

  FAMILY TREE

  Bharata/Puru lineage

  Introduction

  The Hindu tradition has an amazingly large corpus of religious texts, spanning Vedas, Vedanta (brahmanas,1 aranyakas,2 Upanishads,), Vedangas,3 smritis, Puranas, dharmashastras and itihasa. For most of these texts, especially if one excludes classical Sanskrit literature, we don’t quite know when they were composed and by whom, not that one is looking for single authors. Some of the minor Puranas (Upa Purana) are of later vintage. For instance, the Bhavishya Purana (which is often listed as a major Purana or Maha Purana) mentions Queen Victoria.

  In the listing of the corpus above figures itihasa, translated into English as history. History doesn’t entirely capture the nuance of itihasa, which is better translated as ‘this is indeed what happened’. Itihasa isn’t myth or fiction. It is a chronicle of what happened; it is fact. Or so runs the belief. And itihasa consists of India’s two major epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The former is believed to have been composed as poetry and the latter as prose. This isn’t quite correct. The Ramayana has segments in prose and the Mahabharata has segments in poetry. Itihasa doesn’t quite belong to the category of religious texts in a way that the Vedas and Vedanta are religious. However, the dividing line between what is religious and what is not is fuzzy. After all, itihasa is also about attaining the objectives of dharma,4 artha,5 kama6 and moksha7 and the Mahabharata includes Hinduism’s most important spiritual text—the Bhagavad Gita.

  The epics are not part of the shruti tradition. That tradition is like revelation, without any composer. The epics are part of the smriti tradition. At the time they were composed, there was no question of texts being written down. They were recited, heard, memorized and passed down through the generatio
ns. But the smriti tradition had composers. The Ramayana was composed by Valmiki, regarded as the first poet or kavi. The word kavi has a secondary meaning as poet or rhymer. The primary meaning of kavi is someone who is wise. And in that sense, the composer of the Mahabharata was no less wise. This was Vedavyasa or Vyasadeva. He was so named because he classified (vyasa) the Vedas. Vedavyasa or Vyasadeva isn’t a proper name. It is a title. Once in a while, in accordance with the needs of the era, the Vedas need to be classified. Each such person obtains the title and there have been twenty-eight Vyasadevas so far.

  At one level, the question about who composed the Mahabharata is pointless. According to popular belief and according to what the Mahabharata itself states, it was composed by Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa (Vyasadeva). But the text was not composed and cast in stone at a single point in time. Multiple authors kept adding layers and embellishing it. Sections just kept getting added and it is no one’s suggestion that Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa composed the text of the Mahabharata as it stands today.

  Consequently, the Mahabharata is far more unstructured than the Ramayana. The major sections of the Ramayana are known as kandas and one meaning of the word kanda is the stem or trunk of a tree, suggesting solidity. The major sections of the Mahabharata are known as parvas and while one meaning of the word parva is limb or member or joint, in its nuance there is greater fluidity in the word parva than in kanda.

  The Vyasadeva we are concerned with had a proper name of Krishna Dvaipayana. He was born on an island (dvipa). That explains the Dvaipayana part of the name. He was dark. That explains the Krishna part of the name. (It wasn’t only the incarnation of Vishnu who had the name of Krishna.) Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa was also related to the protagonists of the Mahabharata story. To go back to the origins, the Ramayana is about the solar dynasty, while the Mahabharata is about the lunar dynasty. As is to be expected, the lunar dynasty begins with Soma (the moon) and goes down through Pururava (who married the famous apsara Urvashi), Nahusha and Yayati. Yayati became old, but wasn’t ready to give up the pleasures of life. He asked his sons to temporarily loan him their youth. All but one refused. The ones who refused were cursed that they would never be kings, and this includes the Yadavas (descended from Yadu). The one who agreed was Puru and the lunar dynasty continued through him. Puru’s son Duhshanta was made famous by Kalidasa in the Duhshanta–Shakuntala story and their son was Bharata, contributing to the name of Bharatavarsha. Bharata’s grandson was Kuru. We often tend to think of the Kouravas as the evil protagonists in the Mahabharata story and the Pandavas as the good protagonists. Since Kuru was a common ancestor, the appellation Kourava applies equally to Yudhishthira and his brothers and Duryodhana and his brothers. Kuru’s grandson was Shantanu. Through Satyavati, Shantanu fathered Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. However, the sage Parashara had already fathered Krishna Dvaipayana through Satyavati. And Shantanu had already fathered Bhishma through Ganga. Dhritarasthra and Pandu were fathered on Vichitravirya’s wives by Krishna Dvaipayana.