Mahābhārata Parva Study Guides
How Kane's History of Dharmaśāstra uses the Mahābhārata — every citation, across all volumes,
organized by parva. Each guide shows where and how Kane draws on that parva's content.
References link to the Mahābhārata text (sanatana.in/mahabharata) where the verse itself has been found there.
1
Ādiparva MBTA ↗
The Book of Beginnings — lineage of the Kurus, birth of heroes, the burning of the Khāṇḍava forest.
Dharma: Meaning and Sources
117 references · 7 volumes
2
Sabhāparva MBTA ↗
The Book of the Assembly Hall — the dice game, Draupadī's humiliation, exile.
Rājadharma (Kingship and Governance)
62 references · 7 volumes
3
Vanaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of the Forest — twelve years in exile, tīrthayātrā, Nala and Damayantī.
Tīrtha (Sacred Geography)
292 references · 8 volumes
4
Virāṭaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of Virāṭa — the year of concealment in King Virāṭa's court.
16 references · 6 volumes
5
Udyogaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of Effort — diplomacy, Kṛṣṇa's peace mission, preparations for war.
Rājadharma (Kingship and Governance)
73 references · 7 volumes
6
Bhīṣmaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of Bhīṣma — the Bhagavadgītā, the first ten days of battle.
Karma, Cosmology, and Rebirth
29 references · 6 volumes
7
Droṇaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of Droṇa — Droṇa as commander, the death of Abhimanyu.
48 references · 7 volumes
8
Karṇaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of Karṇa — Karṇa as commander, his fall.
22 references · 8 volumes
9
Śalyaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of Śalya — the final day, Duryodhana's fall.
39 references · 7 volumes
10
Sauptikaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of the Sleeping Warriors — Aśvatthāman's night raid.
4 references · 3 volumes
11
Strīparva MBTA ↗
The Book of the Women — lamentation on the battlefield.
Śrāddha and Death Rites
16 references · 7 volumes
12
Śāntiparva MBTA ↗
The Book of Peace — Bhīṣma's teachings on rājadharma, āpaddharma, mokṣadharma.
Rājadharma (Kingship and Governance)
332 references · 8 volumes
13
Anuśāsanaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of Instructions — dāna, ācāra, dharma teachings from Bhīṣma's deathbed.
Dāna (Gifts and Charity)
125 references · 8 volumes
14
Āśvamedhikaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of the Horse Sacrifice — Yudhiṣṭhira's aśvamedha.
Yajña (Sacrifice and Ritual)
26 references · 7 volumes
15
Āśramavāsikaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of the Hermitage — Dhṛtarāṣṭra's retirement, forest fire.
11 references · 5 volumes
16
Mausalaparva MBTA ↗
The Book of the Clubs — the destruction of the Yādavas.
13 references · 6 volumes