Gomangala

Sauptika Parva is the seventy-eighth Upa parva included in the tenth Maha parva named as Sauptika Parva. Vaishampayana continued the narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What was the unbelievable message as asked by Dritarashtra?

Bhima, having the power of a thousand elephants, had killed all hundred Kauravas in the war. Dritharashtra could not believe this message of Sanjaya.

When did the Sauptika Parva really take place?

Sauptika parva was reported to Dritharashtra on the evening of the eighteenth night after the fall of all Kauravas including Duryodhana. Sauptika means history and the happenings during the sleeping time.

On the seventeenth day evening and at night when Duryodhana had hidden under water, in order to satisfy him, Ashvathama had done heinous actions. With Kritavarma and Kripa as his commandos for his safety, in Sauptika parva, the description of massacre violence of Ashvathama were described. Really, Vyasa had described it as on the seventeenth day night incidences. The cruel role of Ashvathama was described here. Krishna had finally intervened and blessed Pareekshit to live till sixty years.

What did Ashvathama do in the evening after the death of Shalya?

Ashvathama had called Kripa and Kritavarm, rode on their horses into the forest and sat together under a tree. On the tree, one owl had killed many other innocent birds. Ashvathama desired similarly, to kill the remaining Pandava soldiers since Bhima had killed all Kaurava brothers with soldiers except Duryodhana.

Hence, he called Kritavarma and Kripa and returned to the Pandava camps where soldiers were sleeping. Kritavarma had waited outside with a sword. Kripa had shone the lamp for Ashvathama. Ashvathama had killed Shikhandi and his charioteer, and then moved towards Drishtadyumna but the charioteer had escaped from the back door. The charioteer had ascended his horse and rode to report to Yudhishtira about the violence.

Ashvathama had killed Drishtadyumna and all the five Upa-pandavas since the facial resemblances were alike Pandavas. Ashvathama had thought he had killed Pandavas but later Yudhishtira had instructed Arjuna and Bhima to capture Ashvathama alive. Yudhishtira had instructed Nakula to bring all ladies from Upaplava including Uttarakumari there.

Gadhayuddha Parva is the seventy-seventh Upa Parva included in the ninth Maha Parva, named as Shalya Parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

When was there a mutual fight in the Mahabharata war?

अश्टादश दिनान्यद्य युद्धस्यास्य जनार्दन । वर्तमानस्य महतः समासाद्य परस्परं ॥

‘Today being the eighteenth day, O Janardana, the day for mutual fight has approached’. Arjuna was speaking with Krishna.

Arjuna and other Pandava brothers were spectators for the mutual fight between Bhima and Duryodhana. There was no soldier supporting with weapons on the eighteenth day but Balarama was the referee there. Balarama was away from the Mahabharata war but a most powerful warrior. Krishna had supported his pilgrimage and his impartial stand.     

What did Arjuna hint in the mace fight engaged by Bhima?

धनंजयस्तु श्रुत्वैतत्केशवस्य महात्मनः । प्रेक्षतो भीमसेनस्य हस्तेनोरुमताडयत् ॥

Meaning: Arjuna on hearing the words of great Krishna, had brought the attention of Bhima, during his fighting with Duryodhana, shown by slapping his own left lap, hinting him to blow the thigh with the mace. The Sanskrit of Vyasa is seen here. But the original verses were shuffled within the palm leaf bundles. Mahabharata war had been fought for eighteen days only as told by Vyasa.   

What did Vyasa tell to Yudhishtira at Upaplava that was remembered by him then?

उपप्लव्ये महर्षिर्मे कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् । यतो धर्मस्ततः कृष्णो यतः कष्णस्ततो जयः ॥

Yudhishtira remembered the words of Vyasa since he had informed him at Upaplava about the success of the war, as Dharma it is Krishna, he follows it, and hence, where there is Krishna there is the success. Pandavas had won it by Krishna.

Who were absent in the Gadayuddha and what they were doing then? How was law and order observed automatically there?

Saraswatha Parva is the seventy-sixth Upa Parva included in the ninth Maha Parva named as Shalya Parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

Balarama had gone for pilgrimage. He started it before the start of the war. Balarama had advised Krishna to be impartial during the war but Krishna replied he would be aligned to the side of Dharma. Duryodhana had studied mace fight under Balarama along with Bhima.

During the pilgrimage, Balarama had visited the twelve Shiva kshetras and fifty two Devi kshetras. Balarama desired Dwaraka would be one such notified holy place similar to the well-known seven pilgrimage centers. So Balarama decided to return to Dwaraka finally calling Krishna from Kurukshetra, and travelled together.

After the sinking of Dwaraka island, a temple for Krishna was built at Puri. So Puri is similar or equivalent to Dwaraka in holiness. Separate deities for Subhadra and Balabhadra were also available with Krishna in Puri. In the Tirthayatra parva, more description about the holy places and rivers would be available. Balarama desired for a peaceful life and hence kept away from the war hoax.  

Why this Upaparva got its name as Saraswatha parva?

Saraswathi was a great holy river. The river banks consisted of many holy places and many Rishis. They were living in their hermits there. Balarama had visited almost all such places and Vyasa had given the detailed descriptions of them with many side stories. Hence this Upa parva got its name as Saraswatha parva.

Jalapravesha Parva is the seventy-fifth Upa parva included in the ninth Maha parva named as Shalya parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What is Hridapravesha?

Hridapravesha means the same as Jalapravesha. It means hiding under water.

What was advised by Krishna to Yudhishtira regaring Shalya?

तवैव हि जयो नूनं हते मद्रेश्वरे युधि । तस्मिन् हते हतं सर्वं दार्तराष्ट्र बलं महत् ॥

Krishna advised Yudhishtira, after killing the king of Madra, success would be yours. In the war, if Shalya, the king of Madra is killed, then all great powers of Dritarashtra would be ceased. On the seventeenth day, Yudhishtira killed Shalya.

What did Duryodhana and Yudhishtira do after the death of all Kaurava commanders one by one, on the seventeenth day evening? 

On the seventeenth day evening, when the Madra king Shalya was killed by Yudhishtira, he was confident about the full success and hence met Krishna with his brothers. Yudhishtira consulted Krishna regarding the next actions.

Krishna told them to take rest for some time at a secret place. Hence they told their charioteers to go to safe places and have rest there at night but not to go to army camps for resting. In the chariot of Yudhishtira, the five brothers had gone to the pig sty near Oghavathy tributary river side. Very secretly, they had rest inside the pig sty after their evening prayers. 

Shalya Vadha Parva is the seventy fourth Upa parva in the ninth Maha parva named as Shalya Maha parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What are the various upa parvas of Shalya parva and what are their contents?

Shalya Maha parva has four upa parvas. Shalya vadha parva, Jalapravesha parva, Saraswata parva and Gadayuddha parva are the four upa parvas.

In the Shalya vadha parva, Dushasana vadha by Bhima on the sixteenth day and the Shalya being killed by Yudhishtira on the seventeenth day are described.

Duryodhana’s hiding in water is the content of the Jalapravesha parva. The Saraswata parva is the description of Balarama’s pilgrimage and his timely return to attend the mace war of Bhima and Duryodhana.

In the Gadayuddha parva, Duryodhana vadha by Bhima during the mace fight on the eighteenth day is described.

Thus, there are four upa parvas containing very interesting histories in Shalya parva.

After Shalya parva, what is the next Maha parva?

After Shalya parva, Sauptika parva is the next Maha parva. On the seventeenth night, Ashvathama had resorted to violence and Duryodhana had hidden under water and these were described in separate chapters. Ashvathama’s cruelties were alone described in the Sauptika Maha parva containing three separate upa parvas. Sauptika upaparva, Aishika upaparva and Ashvathama upaparva are the three chapters after Shalya Maha parva.

The history told by Vyshampayana reflects the replies against curiosity but not the consequence in chronology of time. Gadayuddha happened after Sauptika Maha parva. On the eighteenth day, Duryodhana was alone lying there while Balarama had gone to Dwaraka.   

What did Shalya do when the chariot of Karna could not move in the mud?

Shalya was the charioteer of Karna and he had done his best in the battlefield but the chariot could not move in the mud on the fifteenth day of the war. Due to various curses, also being unlucky, the arrows of Arjuna had hit Karna and Karna had died on the battlefield. Shalya had immediately jumped out of the chariot, climbed his own chariot and visited Duryodhana.

Karna Parva is the seventy third Upa parva in the eighth Maha parva named as Karna Parva. The Karna Mahaparva has only one Upa parva, Karna Upa parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

एको हि योगोऽस्य भवेद्वधाय चिद्रे ह्येनं स्वप्रमत्तः प्रमत्तं ।
कृच्च्रप्राप्तं रथचक्रे निमग्ने हन्याः पूर्वं त्वं तु संज्ञां विचार्य ॥

After killing of Ghatotkacha, Krishna had appreciated Karna. He then told to Arjuna, the only chance available for Arjuna to kill Karna would be when Karna was puzzled but Arjuna was not puzzled, and while his chariot wheel is immersed in mud, I shall signal you. Please remember tomorrow, on the fifteenth day evening.

As commander-in-chief for the Kaurava army, how many days did Karna fight?

तयोर्द्वे दिवसे युद्धं कुरुपांडव सेनयोः। कर्णे सेनापतौ राजन्नभूदद्भुतदर्शनं ॥

As commander-in-chief for the Kaurava army, Karna had fought for two days, from the fourteenth day till the fifteenth day evening. Karna had showed wonderful capabilities.

‘But on the fifteenth day evening, in the war between the Kaurava and Pandava armies, O king, Karna had died’, Sanjaya told to Dritarashtra. Arjuna was fighting just for the namesake only but the actual killing was done by Agni that was moving in front of Arjuna described by Vyasa as below. 

What were the bad omens seen on the morning of the fourteenth day?

Narayanastra Parva is the seventy-second Upa parva included in the seventh Maha parva named Drona parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What was Narayanastra?

Narayastra was a powerful weapon procured by Drona and provided to his son Ashwathama. It was in Parashurama’s custody for many years. Drona desired his son to live safely in the future, so the weapon was given to Ashwathama.

Who was the custodian of Narayanastra?

Ashwathama preserved Narayastra until the thirteenth day night.

Why was Ashwathama very violent after the thirteenth-day night war?

Drona was killed on the thirteenth-day night war by Drishtadyumna. During the night war, a fight between Yudhishtira and Karna was planned by Krishna and Bhima. Since Drona could not be killed in the daytime, it was planned and posted for the nighttime, also under the absence of Arjuna and Satyaki.

Drona Vadha Parva is the seventy-first Upa parva in the seventh Maha parva named as Drona parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

What did Krishna tell regarding Drona to Bhima and Yudhishtira? 

Krishna told regarding the war capabilities of Drona to Bhima and Yudhishtira. Drona was fighting continuously without rest day and night for four and a half days till the thirteenth midnight. Krishna said that, if the death message of Ashwathama was heard by Drona, then he would be withdrawing from the battlefield. At the same time, a team of great Rishis suddenly appeared before Drona and they opined Drona was doing wrong; he should not fight with his students.

How was Drona Vadha done by Drishtadyumna on the thirteenth night?

Soon after the moonrise, some of the soldiers were alerted by Yudhistira to continue the war in the early night of the thirteenth day.  Karna found that Yudhishtira had been ready for fighting. Bhima was protecting Yudhishtira but they were tired of fighting. Leaving the fight with Satyaki, Karna started attacking Yudhishtira since Drona desired to capture him and make him a war prisoner.

Ghatotkacha Parva is the seventieth Upa parva included in the seventh Maha parva named Drona parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

Duryodhana had requested Drona to kill the demon Ghatotkacha. How and when was it done, and by whom? 

After becoming the commander in chief of the Duryodhana army, on the fourteenth day night, Karna had killed Ghatotkacha. But it was a pending order of Drona to Karna so this narration is included in Drona parva.

Who was Ghatotkacha and when did he join the Pandava army?

Ghatotkacha was the son of Hidimbi and Bhima. He was a demon. His style of war was suited to demons. Ghatotkacha’s references are already mentioned on this website under various parvas like Mrigaswapnodbhava parva, Jatasuravadha parva, Ajagara parva, Amshavatarana parva and Hidimba parva. As soon as the Mahabharata war was declared, Ghatotkacha had started to Kurukshetra and on the ninth day, he had joined his father in the war. On the same day, Drona became more active in keeping Ghatotkacha under control, so this parva is also included under Drona parva.

Since he was a demon, to fight him, Drona recruited many demons into his army. But Drona died first on the thirteenth day night and later on the fourteenth night, Ghatotkacha was killed by Karna when Karna used his preserved Vasavi Astra. Initially, Duryodhana had attacked Ghatotkacha but Duryodhana was defeated by him so Duryodhana had escaped from the battlefield directing Karna to kill him. Later Duryodhana was very happy when Karna had successfully killed Ghatotkacha. 

What did Drona advise Karna regarding the war of Ghatotkacha?

Jayadrathavadha Parva is the sixty-ninth Upa parva included in the seventh Maha parva named as Drona parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

Who was Jayadratha?

Jayadratha was the cousin brother of Duryodhana and the husband of Dushala. He was the king of Sindhu kingdom. His father was usually referred to by the name Saindhava. In his old age, Saindhava had crowned Jayadratha and left for penance. The place called Samanta Panchaka near Kurukshetra was a sacred one and he selected it for his penance.

Saindhava was not bothered about the Mahabharata war and continued his penance there on the river bank. Except for Krishna, nobody knew about it. Krishna had utilized this secret fact to kill Jayadratha. Being an incarnation of God, he desired to bestow Moksha on Saindhava. 

After Drona assumed as commander-in-chief for Duryodhana’s army in consultation with Duryodhana, Drona had rearranged the war protocols. Only one-third of the total strength was brought for the active war in action, and sixteen hours per day were declared at the liberty of the soldiers. The dead animals like elephants and horses, the broken chariots and poisonous arrows were cleared from the leading path of the soldiers. The wooden pieces from the broken chariots were heaped up to create fires.

Some demons, the children of very cruel Asuras like Jatasura (the past enemies of Pandavas) were recruited to Duryodhana’s army to ensure success over Pandavas. The demon Alambala was one of them. Son of Bhima, Ghatotkacha was assigned as the killing target for Alambala. But Alambala requested the help of Karna, so Karna was allowed to protect Alambala in war.

What was the difference in the war protocol of Drona as compared to Bhishma?

Defeating and capturing war prisoners was the aim of Drona. Killing was not mandatory as Bhishma had done. This was the major difference in their protocol.  

Who died first, Drona or Jayadratha?