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

How Drona had arranged the Mahabharata war on the twelfth day of war?

Under the commander-in-chief Drona, the Mahabharata war was fought for three days from the eleventh day morning up to the thirteenth day late night. There was rest for the fighting soldiers on the eleventh day night and on the twelfth day night but the war was not stopped.

Initially, Drona had thought the war should be fought by the soldiers in four parts taking shifts like a relay. One third of the soldiers should go for relief or for personal reasons out of the battle field into their war camps but one third should be always fighting with the enemy soldiers.

Karna was helping Drona on war time basis. Drona had arranged all medical facilities for the needy soldiers by order of Duryodhana. Drona had also arranged all kinds of food facilities for the needy soldiers. Pork (pig-meat) was supplied to the interested non-vegetarian soldiers with the choice of alcohol also. Drona had arranged all resting facilities for the needy soldiers in his war camps.

Ashwathama was not allowed by Duryodhana to fight directly in the battle field. He was allotted the risk of army intelligence, timely reporting of the war plans of the opposite side soldiers. So he was reporting to his father or to Duryodhana timely, avoiding his field exposure. Some of the soldiers started from their camp on the eleventh day morning but continued to proceed on fighting on the twelfth day also. The Samasaptaka warriors had not returned to their camps but went on fighting and died on the twelfth day. 

Who were Samasaptakas? Who were Trigarta warriors?

Bhishma Patana Parva is the sixty fourth Upa parva included in the sixth Maha parva named as Bhishma parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

How Yudhishtira had responded to Bhishma and Drona before the war?

Yudhishtira had got down from his chariot, removed his armored jackets with shoes, and started walking towards Bhishma. His brothers started asking what he wished to do, but when Arjuna also got down from his chariot, Krishna was very happy, nodding his head, as he knew Yudhishtira was doing right. With both hands folded together, Yudhishtira openly sought the blessings of Bhishma for success in the war. The Pandava brothers repeated what Yudhishtira had done. Bhishma had blessed all the Pandava brothers to get success in the war.

Then, Yudhishitra had started walking towards Drona. His brothers started asking again what he wished to do, but when Arjuna also followed Yudhishtira, Krishna was very happy, nodding his head, as he knew Yudhishtira was doing right even now. With both hands folded together, Yudhishtira openly sought the blessings of Drona for success in the war. The Pandava brothers repeated what Yudhishtira had done. Drona had blessed all the Pandava brothers to get success in the war.  

Why Krishna and most of the opposite side kings praised Yudhishtira?

The blessings of the eldest brings courtesy and success in the work. Also, the blessings of the teacher brings courtesy and success in the job. Hence Krishna and most of the opposite side kings who stood with righteousness had praised Yudhishtira for his actions before starting the war. 

What was the option offered by Yudhishtira before the start of the war?

Yudhistira had announced the option for the willing individuals to change the side of the armies if they desire before the actual start of the war. Nobody had left from the side of Yudhishtira, but Yuyutsu, the youngest of the Kaurava brothers had left Duryodhana side and joined the side of Yudhistira.

Bhumi Parva is the sixty second Upa parva included in the sixth Maha parva named as Bhishma parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

How Sanjaya had elaborated the Earth with the oceans in Mahabharat?

नैकधातु विचित्रैश्च पर्वतैरुपशोभितः ।
सिद्ध चारण संकीर्णः सागरः परिमण्डलः ॥

Meaning: Wonderful different types of elements were there in the various beautiful hills and different kinds of people like Siddhas and long legged persons were on the islands on this tiny Earth, surrounded by oceans, being spherical in nature. 

The conclusion of ancient Indian people about the Earth as a sphere or globe shape was really recordable. The salt water was more than the land soil surrounding it. 

Dritarashtra being a blind emperor was very curious to know about his ruled Earth. 

What was the specialty of some of the distant islands on this Earth?

From more than the seven islands, soldiers had come to participate in the war. Shaka, Kusha, Manichaka, Shama, Raivata, Modaki and Sukumara were some of their names of the islands. Some more islands were told to Dritarashtra. They were surrounded by salt water. They had got their names from the mountains in the middle of those islands. Some people were black in colour. Most of them were sincere devotees of Krishna. Krauncha was another Island. Some of the islands were very rich in many respects. Hence none of the people of that society died due to poverty. Then the citizenship of a particular society is referred as ‘Janapada’.

प्रागायतो महाराज मलयो नाम पर्वतः । 
यतो मेघाः प्रवर्तन्ते प्रभवन्ति च सर्वशः ॥

Meaning: In the Eastern side, there exists a mountain called Malaya. The clouds were generated from the sea and pass over it and spread (causing rain) to various or all directions. 

तत्र परेण कौरव्य जलधारो महागिरिः । यत्र नित्यमुपादत्ते वासवः परमं जलं ।
यतो वर्षं प्रभवति वर्षाकाले जनेश्वर ॥

Meaning: Thereafter O Kaurava king, the mountain was called as Jaladhara. There, daily rains happen. It happens by the grace of Vasava, the angel of rain. O king, it is like rainy season always there. Shillong or Cherrapunji was ever famous for highest rainfall in the world, Mahabharata was telling wonderful truth. In due course of time, most of these places got new names due to different kings and different languages of people.

Jambu Dvipa Parva or Jambu Khanda Vinirmana Parva is the sixty first Upa parva included in the sixth Maha parva named as Bhishma Parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries. Janamejaya was very curious about the happenings in the war. He asked Vaishampayana how Kaurava and Pandava army soldiers had faced the battle.

The India sub-continent then called as Bharata Varsha or Jambu peninsular was the main area from where the kings and soldiers came marching and they had formed tents on the Western side of Kurukshetra facing the East. Yudhishtira had ordered to arrange several thousands of army camps. Duryodhana had also arranged several thousands of army camps on the Eastern side outside his palace facing the West.

Yudhishtira had distributed code words to soldiers to recognize them in the field. He also arranged sufficient food and essential items for all his warriors. Duryodhana had distributed jewels to his own soldiers to recognize them in the field. He also arranged for all, sufficient dress and other essential items. He encouraged them to fight and instructed to kill the Pandavas. Pandavas’ side and Kauravas’ side commanders formed their own terms and conditions for avoiding killing of own side soldiers due to mistaken identities. 

Vyasa Rishi visited there. Vyasa was a far sighted Rishi. He visited Dritarashtra and secretly informed him about the military developments in Kurukshetra. He also informed about the bad omens and guessed about the bad results of war near his palace. Vyasa offered Dritarashtra to provide him visual ability to see the war proceedings of his children. Dritarashtra replied to Vyasa not to offer him the power of vision since the war would happen between the children grown up by him in his own palace. But as an emperor he should collect the daily news related to his palace and surroundings.

Ambopakhyana Parva is the sixtieth Upa parva included in the sixth Maha parva named as Bhishma parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

Duryodhana desired to know the reasons from Bhishma for not fighting with Shikhandi and requested with him to clarify his doubts in the court.

What reasons Bhishma told to Duryodhana for not fighting with Shikhandi?

Bhishma started to tell the Ambopakhyana to Duryodhana in detail.

The king of Kashi or Varanasi had three daughters. After they had grown up and completed their royal education, the king desired to give them away by arranging their marriage through Swayamvara system.  The names of the three daughters were Amba, Ambika and Ambalika.

Who was the father of Amba?

The King of Kashi or Varanasi was the father of Amba. He was known as Kasha.

Why Bhishma had carried away Amba to Hastinavati from Kashi?

In Hastinavati, then Vichitraveerya was installed on the throne. He was young but not had gained name and fame, and also younger than Bhishma. Bhishma had already taken a vow not to get married and his former name was Devavrata. The King of Kashi had not sent invitation for the Swayamvara marriage of his three daughters to Hastinavati Palace but had sent to all other princes of the Bharatavarsha.

Bhishma got the news of the Swayamvara at Kashi and felt as an insult to his status since Vichitraveerya could also be invited. Bhishma had travelled to Kashi and carried away Amba, Ambika and Ambalika forcefully on the day of marriage in his chariot. Bhishma was an able warrior and had good capacity to face the enemies. So the three daughters reached the Palace of Hastinavati from Kashi. Other princes came on protesting with their soldiers but Bhishma had defeated them and moved ahead. The king Shalva had followed him but due to the striking of Bhishma, returned to Shalva’s own kingdom. This part has already been narrated in Sambhava Upa parva of Mahabharat on this website.

Why Amba had gone to the Palace of Shalva?

Ulukadutagamana Parva is the fifty eighth Upa Parva included in the fifth Maha Parva named as Udyoga Parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.

Kauravas and Pandavas had arranged for the Mahabharata war in Kurukshetra separately in two large camps with their own huge army troops. 

Who was Uluka? 

Uluka was the son of Shakuni. He was young, energetic and very clever. In Sanskrit, Uluka means fox. Uluka was residing with his father Shakuni.

What was the message sent to Yudhistira through Uluka from Duryodhana?

Duryodhana had sent Uluka as his messenger, with the declaration of war. The wordings used were full of insulting the Pandava brothers, and there was no respect for Krishna. It was like a challenge for Yudhishtira. In the message, there was a brief mention of heroism of Duryodhana and old dice games.  

How the Pandavas responded to the war declaration message of Uluka?