Editing Mahabharata (section)

=== The 18 parvas or books ===
The division into 18 parvas is as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Parva
!Title
!Sub-parvas
!Contents
|-
|1
|''[[Adi Parva]]'' ''(The Book of the Beginning)''
|1–19
|How the ''Mahābhārata'' came to be narrated by [[Ugrasrava Sauti|Sauti]] to the assembled [[rishi]]s at [[Naimisharanya]], after having been recited at the ''sarpasattra'' of [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]] by [[Vaisampayana]] at [[Taxila|Takshashila]]. The history and genealogy of the [[Bhāratas|Bharata]] and [[Bhrigu]] races are recalled, as is the birth and early life of the [[Kuru kingdom|Kuru]] [[List of characters in the Mahabharata|princes]] (''adi'' means first). Adi parva describes [[Pandava|Pandavas]]' birth, childhood, education, marriage, struggles due to conspiracy as well as glorious achievements.
|-
|2
|''[[Sabha Parva]]'' (The Book of the Assembly Hall)
|20–28
|[[Mayasura|Maya Danava]] erects the [[Mayasabha|palace and court]] (''sabha'') at [[Indraprastha]]. The Sabha Parva narrates the glorious [[Yudhisthira]]'s Rajasuya sacrifice performed with the help of his brothers and Yudhisthira's rule in Shakraprastha/[[Indraprastha]] as well as the humiliation and deceit caused by conspiracy along with their own action.
|-
|3
|''[[Vana Parva]]'' ''also'' ''Aranyaka Parva'', ''Aranya Parva'' (The Book of the Forest)
|29–44
|The twelve years of exile in the forest (''aranya''). The entire Parva describes their struggle and consolidation of strength.
|-
|4
|''[[Virata Parva]]'' (The Book of Virata)
|45–48
|The year spent incognito at the court of [[Virata]]. A single warrior ([[Arjuna]]) defeated the entire Kuru army including [[Karna]], [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Ashwatthama]], etc. and recovered the cattle of the [[Virata]] kingdom.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04026.htm SECTION XXVI (Go-harana Parva)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130220420/https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m04/m04026.htm |date=30 November 2021 }} ''sacred-texts.com''.</ref>
|-
|5
| ''[[Udyoga Parva]]'' (The Book of the Effort)
|49–59
|Preparations for war and efforts to bring about peace between the Kaurava and the Pandava sides which eventually fail (''udyoga'' means effort or work).
|-
|6
| ''[[Bhishma Parva]]'' (The Book of Bhishma)
| 60–64
|The first part of the great battle, with [[Bhishma]] as commander for the Kaurava and his fall on the bed of arrows. The most important aspect of Bhishma Parva is the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' narrated by [[Krishna]] to [[Arjuna]]. (Includes the ''Bhagavad Gita'' in chapters 25–42.)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06025.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XXV (''Bhagavad Gita'' Chapter I) |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=3 August 2012 |archive-date=21 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521235153/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06025.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06042.htm |title=The Mahabharata, Book 6: Bhishma Parva: Bhagavat-Gita Parva: Section XLII (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter XVIII) |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=3 August 2012 |archive-date=21 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521231917/http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06042.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|7
| ''[[Drona Parva]]'' (The Book of Drona)
|65–72
|The battle continues, with [[Drona]] as commander. This is the major book of the war. Most of the great warriors on both sides are dead by the end of this book.
|-
|8
| ''[[Karna Parva]]'' (The Book of Karna)
|73
|The continuation of the battle with [[Karna]] as commander of the [[Kaurava]] forces.
|-
|9
|''[[Shalya Parva]]'' (The Book of Shalya)
|74–77
|The last day of the battle, with [[Shalya]] as commander. Also told in detail, is the pilgrimage of Balarama to the fords of the river Saraswati and the mace fight between Bhima and Duryodhana which ends the war, since Bhima kills Duryodhana by smashing him on the thighs with a mace.
|-
|10
| ''[[Sauptika Parva]]'' (The Book of the Sleeping Warriors)
|78–80
|[[Ashwatthama]], Kripa and Kritavarma kill the remaining Pandava army in their sleep. Only seven warriors remain on the Pandava side and three on the Kaurava side.
|-
|11
| ''[[Stri Parva]]'' (The Book of the Women)
|81–85
|[[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] and the women (''stri'') of the Kauravas and Pandavas lament the dead and Gandhari cursing [[Krishna]] for the massive destruction and the extermination of the Kaurava.
|-
|12
| ''[[Shanti Parva]]'' (The Book of Peace)
|86–88
|The crowning of [[Yudhishthira]] as king of Hastinapura, and instructions from [[Bhishma]] for the newly anointed king on society, economics, and politics. This is the longest book of the ''Mahabharata''. 
|-
|13
| ''[[Anushasana Parva]]'' (The Book of the Instructions)
|89–90
|The final instructions (''anushasana'') from [[Bhishma]]. This Parba contains the last day of Bhishma and his advice and wisdom to the upcoming emperor [[Yudhishthira]].
|-
|14
| ''[[Ashvamedhika Parva]]'' (The Book of the Horse Sacrifice)<ref>The ''Ashvamedhika-parva'' is also preserved in a separate version, the  ''Jaimini-Bharata'' (''Jaiminiya-Ashvamedha'') where the frame dialogue is replaced, the narration being attributed to [[Jaimini]], another disciple of Vyasa. . It describes how Arjuna alone conquered the whole earth once again.  This version contains far more devotional material (related to Krishna) than the standard epic and probably dates to the 12th century. It has some regional versions, the most popular being the [[Kannada language|Kannada]] one by Devapurada Annama Lakshmisha (16th century).[http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/07-06/features360.htm The Mahabharata] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106205614/http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/07-06/features360.htm |date=6 November 2006 }}
{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}</ref>
|91–92
|The royal ceremony of the [[Ashvamedha]] (Horse sacrifice) conducted by Yudhishthira. The world conquest by Arjuna. Anugita is told by Krishna to Arjuna.
|-
|15
| ''[[Ashramavasika Parva]]'' (The Book of the Hermitage)
|93–95
|The eventual deaths of Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti in a forest fire when they are living in a hermitage in the Himalayas. Vidura predeceases them and Sanjaya on Dhritarashtra's bidding goes to live in the higher Himalayas.
|-
|16
| ''[[Mausala Parva]]'' (The Book of the Clubs)
|96
|The materialization of Gandhari's curse, i.e., the infighting between the [[Yadu|Yadavas]] with maces (''mausala'') and the eventual destruction of the Yadavas.
|-
|17
| ''[[Mahaprasthanika Parva]]'' (The Book of the Great Journey)
|97
|The great journey of Yudhishthira, his brothers, and his wife [[Draupadi]] across the whole country and finally their ascent of the great Himalayas where each Pandava falls except for Yudhishthira.
|-
|18
| ''[[Svargarohana Parva]]'' (The Book of the Ascent to Heaven)
|98
| Yudhishthira's final test and the return of the Pandavas to the spiritual world (''[[svarga]]'').
|-
|''khila''
|''[[Harivamsa]] Parva'' (The Book of the Genealogy of Hari)
|99–100
|This is an addendum to the 18 books, and covers those parts of the life of Krishna which is not covered in the 18 parvas of the ''Mahabharata''.
|}