Thread by @DefiledGod

--Fairly Brief Thread on the Intent of Mahābhārata --

Thought of writing on this. If we look at the names of the 18 parvas in the Mahābhārata, we can easily discern the undercurrent of bhakti yoga.+

#Hinduism #Mahabharata #SanatanaDharma #SanatanDharm #Sanatani #Hindus

Adi Parva – The beginning, or the birth of the self when it acquires a body based on karmas. Key events are the curse of Pandu (had already written about inner meanings of this) & Lākṣāgṛha incident that teaches the harm sense-objects cause to the self+

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Sabha Parva – Experiences of embodied self in “Sabha” or Saṃsāra that is an assembly of elements. The self feels suffering now. Draupadi (the self) suffers in hall (Saṃsāra) due to Kauravas (kāma, krodha etc) when her 5 husbands (senses) forsake her.+

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Vana Parva – As the Pandavas wandered the forest seeking the advice of wise rishis, so does the suffering self wander the Vedas seeking a remedy from gurus for samsara, desirous of moksha. Kenopanishad calls Brahman as Vanam as he is to be sought by all.

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Virāṭa Parva – “Virāṭa” means "vast" indicating possession of jnāna and vairāgya in abundance, due to knowledge attained. As the Pāndavās hid from the Kauravās in final year of exile, the self in the final stages prior to yoga, hides from temptations.+

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Udyoga Parva – “Udyoga” means effort. Effort undertaken by Bhagavān to set the seeker on path of Yoga, like Bhagavān going to the Kauravās, Karna etc as a messenger. Bhagavān bestows his favor in the form of enabling bhakti yoga on him (jnāna dīpena bhāsvata – Gīta).

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Bhīṣma Parva – “Bhīṣma” means anything formidable. Karma yoga, desireless action by dedicating fruits of nitya-naimittika karmas, is formidable to sins that obstruct jñāna yoga. This period of Yoga focuses on destroying sins obstructing jñāna yoga.+

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Drona Parva – “Drona” means wood (drumamayam) & is indifference to material objects, to pain & pleasure etc just as a lump of wood feels nothing. Refers to successful completion of jñāna yoga. Experiencing true nature of self destroys sins obstructing bhakti yoga. 

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Karna Parva – “Karna” means “that which steers” or “that which is at the helm” – meditation on Brahman or bhakti yoga proper, which is the principal w/ previous yogās as accessories. Such meditation steers the self towards destruction of sins obstructing liberation. +

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Śalya Parva - "Śalya" - distress, sorrow, poison etc. Period of lapse in Yoga. Refers to Yogi temporarily lapsing back into attachments due to rajas and tamas overcoming him. All personalities suffered this at some point - Prahlada, Bhīṣma, Rudra etc.+

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Sauptika Parva – By selfless worship of the Lord, Yogi conquers rajo and tamo guṇās that caused lapse. “Sauptika” - related inactivity or a numbing – rajas & tamas becoming dormant again. Parva related to subduing of Aśvatthāmā (senses) empowered by Rudra (mind)+

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Strī Parva – Period of Yoga when realization of the Sesa-Sesi bhāva is at its’ mature stage. Yogi now has intense love for Bhagavan & recognizes the Lord as his master and himself as the servant, & considers himself to be dependent as a wife (Strī) on her husband.

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Śānti Parva – Self-explanatory. The Yogi now has peace in the form of joyous meditation on bhagavān, such contemplation being of the form of love and being completely oblivious to anything else.+

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Anuśāsana Parva – Refers to binding by command.The Yogi realizing his true nature & with immense love for bhagavān, lives solely for sake of bhagavān, always acting in sync to Lord's wishes. He does whatever pleases the Lord and refrains from what displeases him.+

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Aśvamedhika Parva – The offering of "horse", signifying the senses. The Yogi, now having his devotion increased manifold, performs services for bhagavān, offering his indrīyās in kāiyika, vācaka & mānasīka kainkarya (services by body, speech and mind).+

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Āśramavāsika Parva – Gita “bahunām janmanam ante... – Sahasranama has name “Āśrama”, refers to ability of Lord to provide a place of rest – "rest" is final birth in a noble family conducive for Yogi to foster exclusive devotion with Yoga now hastening to completion+

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Mausala Parva – Pertaining to maces. “Musala”- “mace” signifies strength (intellect). Fighting with mace --- destroying remaining karmas impeding moksha with intellect (Yoga). Lord burns away the karmas, as Krishna himself oversaw destruction of Yadus.+

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Mahaprasthānika Parva – The great departure of the self from the body, ie, death of the final body. It is a great departure since the self has finally departed from the cycle of births and deaths, & is rid of bodily association for good.+

#Hinduism #Mahabharata #SanatanaDharma

Svargārohaṇa Parva – Ascent to Paramapada or Sri Vaikunta denoted by “Svarga” upon death via the royal road to liberation, the arcirādi mārga described in the Upanishads.+

#Hinduism #SanatanaDharma #Mahabharata #Sanatani #Hindus #Vedas

Thus, the Mahābhārata is an upāsanā sāstra. Events described in each parva have the inner meaning of the overarching theme conveyed by the name of each parva. Might explain some incidents in future, I already covered meanings of curses and Siva-Uma dialogue earlier.//

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