Shraddha Parva is the eighty third Upa parva included in the eleventh Maha parva, named as Stri parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.
Who was the priest for Pandavas for conducting the Shraddha rituals?
Dhaumya Rishi was the authorized priest of Yudhishtira and the Pandavas. Kripa was to safeguard the throne inside the Hastinavathi Palace. Yuyutsu was the surviving son of Dritarashtra and all other Kaurava sons had died after the war.
Dhaumya was to crown Yudhishtira with Draupadi to the throne in the Hastinavathi Palace. Vrishaketu was the surviving son of Karna, and being a minor child, he could not participate in the war, and all Upapandavas had also died after the war. Hence Yudhishtira had arranged, with the help of Kripa, the last rituals on behalf of all dead Kauravas’ soldiers by the hands of Vrishaketu.
Drona was the cousin brother of Kripa and as per advice of Bhishma as well as the request of Kripa, Yuyutsu had done the last rituals of Drona also. He was a student of Drona and Kripa but then unmarried. All ladies of Hastinavati obeyed the instructions of Dhaumya.
What is the main content of the Shraddha parva?
The main content of the Shraddha parva is about the funeral rituals after the war. It was arranged by Dhaumya and Kripa. Bhishma was lying on the battle field and told to the concerned to invite all the relatives, ladies and children of all the dead kings and soldiers of the war. Later, they had assembled on the banks of Ganga.
What did Krishna tell to Gandhari after the war?
Krishna told, Gandhari was responsible for the fall of Duryodhana and Kauravas. If kings, Kauravas and soldiers died in the war, then she need not worry about it.
What did Dritarashtra ask with Yudhishtira after the war and why?
Dritarashtra asked about the statistics of the dead persons with Yudhishtira. He wanted to divert the sad Gandhari present there and console her. Yudhishtira had correctly accounted for the dead persons in the war and arranged for their funerals.
What did Yudhishtira do after the funerals of all soldiers?
Yudhishtira with Dhaumya and all relatives had then walked to the banks of River Ganga. Krishna, Sathyaki and Kripa had taken bath in advance in Ganga, and the trio had walked to the Hastinavati Palace. Kripa had arranged for the Shraddha works of the Palace people before the Jalapradana at Ganga.
Yudhishtira had ordered to arrange the required materials in the palace for the Shraddha related donations. Vidura had helped him in all these works. Krishna and Satyaki were silent in the Palace of Arjuna, since Subhadra had gone to the Ganga river bank.
What did Kritavarma and Ashvathama do during the Shraddha works?
Kritavarma was travelling to Dwaraka Palace and Ashvathama was going to the hermit of Vyasa at Badarikashrama. Later, Kritavarma had engaged in the water oblation rituals as directed by Balarama at Dwaraka. Ashvathama had engaged in the water oblation rituals as directed by Vyasa at Badarikashrama, for Drona.
Next post, Mahabharat: Jalapradanika Parva would be more interesting.
Mahabharata: Griha Parva would be presented separately in another article.
What are the benefits of reading this story?
On reading this story, children would gain more memory power, great moral strength in their lives in future; creating a sense of self-reliance, leading to peace and progress.
It is humbly prayed for the blessings of God Krishna upon us.
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