Ashramvasik Parva (Sanskrit: आश्रमवासिक पर्व), or the "Book of the Hermitage", is the fifteenth of the eighteen books of the Indian epic Mahabharata. It traditionally has 3 parts and 39 chapters.[1][2] The critical edition has 3 parts and 47 chapters.[3][4]
The Ashramvasika Parva describes the fifteen years of prosperity under Yudhishthira following the great war. The five Pandavas live in amity with the survivors of their uncle's family, with Yudhishthira scrupulously consulting Dhritarashtra on matters of governance. Draupadi becomes friends with Gandhari, Vyasa and other sages visit the kingdom with their fables and wisdom. The parva recites the next two years when Dhritarashtra and Gandhari take Sannyasa and live a hermit's life in a forest.[2][5]
Kunti leading Dhritarashtra and Gandhari as they head to Sannyasa
Ashramvasik Parva (book) traditionally has 3 sub-parvas (parts or little books) and 39 adhyayas (sections, chapters).[1] The following are the sub-parvas:[6]
1. Ashramavasa Parva (Chapters: 1–28)
This sub-book describes the fifteen year reign by Yudhishthira after the great war, followed by the departure of Kunti, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari to Vyasa's hermitage for sannyasa. It also mentions Vidura and his death.
2. Putradarsana Parva (Chapters: 29–36)
This sub-book recites the visit of Pandavas to meet Kunti, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari at the hermitage. In the forest on the request of Gandhari, Kunti & other women, sage Vyasa with his powers, resurrect the dead warriors of Kurukshetra war for one night.
3. Naradagamana Parva (Chapters: 37–39)
This sub-book describes the death of Kunti, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Narada visits to console those in grief. Yudhishthira performs cremation rites for all of them.
The parva describes the 15 year rule by Pandavas with Yudhishthira as the king. Yudhishthira commanded his brothers to cause no grief to Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, who had lost all their hundred sons. Bhima alone however could not forgive the evil that his cousins had done, and his servitors disregarded Dhritarashtra's wishes. Once, the angry Vrikodara harshly reminded the old man how he had dispatched all his mighty sons to the other worlds. Hearing these words, Dhritarashtra gave way to cheerlessness and sorrow. After fifteen years Dhritarashtra and his wife sought the king's permission to take sannyasa (renunciation of domestic life for moksha). Yudhishthira initially disagreed but was persuaded otherwise by Vyasa.
Before leaving for the forest Dhritarashtra dispatched Vidura to the king, asking for the means to perform a śrāddha for the deceased Kurus. While Yudhishthira and Arjuna accepted the request, Bhima was enraged. Following the performance of the rites, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti left for the forest. Sanjaya and Vidura joined them in Vyasa's hermitage.
One year later the Pandavas went to meet with them. On seeking Vidura, Yudhishthira found him performing rigorous tapasya deep in the forest; without his uttering a word, energy left Vidura's body and entered that of Yudhishthira, after which Vidura fell dead. When he tried to cremate the corpse an invisible voice prevented the king from doing so. Vyasa then told him how Vidura was an incarnation of Dharma, the god of righteousness, born in the mortal world through the curse of Mandavya.
Vyasa understanding the sorrow of Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti offered them a glimpse of their sons and relatives who died at Kurukshetra. The spirits of the slain then rose from the waters of the Bhagirathi, with Vyasa offering the blind Dhritarashtra celestial vision for beholding those heroes. The five Pandavas met Karna, Abhimanyu, and the sons of Draupadi. After some time that large ghostly host disappeared and went to their respective regions.
On hearing the story the sceptical Janamejaya asked Vyasa to prove the veracity of the tale, upon which Vyasa summoned Parikshit. The Pandavas, at Dhritarashtra's own request, then returned to Hastinapura.
Two years later, Narada informed Yudhishthira that Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti had willingly perished in a forest-fire, after ordering Sanjaya to escape. Narada consoled the grieving Pandavas by telling that their aged relatives had found peace in the abodes of the gods. Yudhishthira then performed their śhraddha.[2]
English translations
Ashramvasik Parva was composed in Sanskrit. Several translations of the book in English are available. Two translations from the 19th century, now in the public domain, are those by Kisari Mohan Ganguli[1] and Manmatha Nath Dutt.[2] The translations vary with each translator's interpretations.
Debroy, in 2011, notes[7] that updated critical edition of Ashramvasik Parva, after removing about 30% of verses generally accepted so far as spurious and inserted into the original, has 3 parts, 47 adhyayas (chapters) and 1,061 shlokas (verses).
Quotes and teachings
This section is a candidate to be copied to Wikiquote using the Transwiki process.
Ashramvasika parva, Chapter 5:
Let thy judicial officers, O Yudhishthira, inflict punishments on offenders, according to the law, after careful determination of the gravity of the offenses.
— Dhritarashtra, Ashramvasika Parva, Mahabharata Book xv.5[8]
Putradarsana parva, Chapter 34:
He who knows himself attains the highest understanding and becomes freed from error, All creatures appear from an invisible state, and once more disappear into invisibleness.
He enjoys, or endures, the fruits of all his act, where he does them, If the act be a mental one, its consequences are enjoyed, or endured, mentally; If it is done with the body, its consequences are to be enjoyed, or endured, in the body.
^van Buitenen, J.A.B. (1973) The Mahabharata: Book 1: The Book of the Beginning. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, p 478
^Debroy, B. (2010) The Mahabharata, Volume 1. Gurgaon: Penguin Books India, pp xxiii - xxvi
^John Murdoch (1898), The Mahabharata - An English Abridgment, Christian Literature Society for India, London, pages 125-128
^"Mahābhārata (Table of Contents)". The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
^Bibek Debroy, The Mahabharata: Volume 3, ISBN978-0143100157, Penguin Books, pp. xxiii - xxiv of Introduction
^Ashramvasik Parva The Mahabharata, Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1895), Chapter 5, page 16
^Ashramvasik Parva The Mahabharata, Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1895), Chapter 34, page 77
External links
Ashramvasik Parva, English Translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Ashramvasik Parva, English Translation by Manmatha Nath Dutt
Ashramvasik Parva in Sanskrit by Vyasadeva with commentary by Nilakantha - Worldcat OCLC link
Ashramvasik Parva in Sanskrit and Hindi by Ramnarayandutt Shastri, Volume 5
January 13, 2023
ashramavasika, parva, ashramvasik, parva, sanskrit, आश, रमव, पर, book, hermitage, fifteenth, eighteen, books, indian, epic, mahabharata, traditionally, parts, chapters, critical, edition, parts, chapters, vidura, successfully, brings, kauravas, pandavas, toget. Ashramvasik Parva Sanskrit आश रमव स क पर व or the Book of the Hermitage is the fifteenth of the eighteen books of the Indian epic Mahabharata It traditionally has 3 parts and 39 chapters 1 2 The critical edition has 3 parts and 47 chapters 3 4 Vidura successfully brings the Kauravas and Pandavas together shown Yudhishthira rules the empire for 15 years Ashramvasik parva describes those 15 years followed by 2 years of Sannyasa by Kunti Dhritarashtra and Gandhari in Vyasa s hermitage The Ashramvasika Parva describes the fifteen years of prosperity under Yudhishthira following the great war The five Pandavas live in amity with the survivors of their uncle s family with Yudhishthira scrupulously consulting Dhritarashtra on matters of governance Draupadi becomes friends with Gandhari Vyasa and other sages visit the kingdom with their fables and wisdom The parva recites the next two years when Dhritarashtra and Gandhari take Sannyasa and live a hermit s life in a forest 2 5 Contents 1 Structure and chapters 2 English translations 3 Quotes and teachings 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksStructure and chapters Edit Kunti leading Dhritarashtra and Gandhari as they head to Sannyasa Ashramvasik Parva book traditionally has 3 sub parvas parts or little books and 39 adhyayas sections chapters 1 The following are the sub parvas 6 1 Ashramavasa Parva Chapters 1 28 This sub book describes the fifteen year reign by Yudhishthira after the great war followed by the departure of Kunti Dhritarashtra and Gandhari to Vyasa s hermitage for sannyasa It also mentions Vidura and his death dd 2 Putradarsana Parva Chapters 29 36 This sub book recites the visit of Pandavas to meet Kunti Dhritarashtra and Gandhari at the hermitage In the forest on the request of Gandhari Kunti amp other women sage Vyasa with his powers resurrect the dead warriors of Kurukshetra war for one night dd 3 Naradagamana Parva Chapters 37 39 This sub book describes the death of Kunti Dhritarashtra and Gandhari Narada visits to console those in grief Yudhishthira performs cremation rites for all of them dd The parva describes the 15 year rule by Pandavas with Yudhishthira as the king Yudhishthira commanded his brothers to cause no grief to Dhritarashtra and Gandhari who had lost all their hundred sons Bhima alone however could not forgive the evil that his cousins had done and his servitors disregarded Dhritarashtra s wishes Once the angry Vrikodara harshly reminded the old man how he had dispatched all his mighty sons to the other worlds Hearing these words Dhritarashtra gave way to cheerlessness and sorrow After fifteen years Dhritarashtra and his wife sought the king s permission to take sannyasa renunciation of domestic life for moksha Yudhishthira initially disagreed but was persuaded otherwise by Vyasa Before leaving for the forest Dhritarashtra dispatched Vidura to the king asking for the means to perform a sraddha for the deceased Kurus While Yudhishthira and Arjuna accepted the request Bhima was enraged Following the performance of the rites Dhritarashtra Gandhari and Kunti left for the forest Sanjaya and Vidura joined them in Vyasa s hermitage One year later the Pandavas went to meet with them On seeking Vidura Yudhishthira found him performing rigorous tapasya deep in the forest without his uttering a word energy left Vidura s body and entered that of Yudhishthira after which Vidura fell dead When he tried to cremate the corpse an invisible voice prevented the king from doing so Vyasa then told him how Vidura was an incarnation of Dharma the god of righteousness born in the mortal world through the curse of Mandavya Vyasa understanding the sorrow of Dhritarashtra Gandhari and Kunti offered them a glimpse of their sons and relatives who died at Kurukshetra The spirits of the slain then rose from the waters of the Bhagirathi with Vyasa offering the blind Dhritarashtra celestial vision for beholding those heroes The five Pandavas met Karna Abhimanyu and the sons of Draupadi After some time that large ghostly host disappeared and went to their respective regions On hearing the story the sceptical Janamejaya asked Vyasa to prove the veracity of the tale upon which Vyasa summoned Parikshit The Pandavas at Dhritarashtra s own request then returned to Hastinapura Two years later Narada informed Yudhishthira that Dhritarashtra Gandhari and Kunti had willingly perished in a forest fire after ordering Sanjaya to escape Narada consoled the grieving Pandavas by telling that their aged relatives had found peace in the abodes of the gods Yudhishthira then performed their shraddha 2 English translations EditAshramvasik Parva was composed in Sanskrit Several translations of the book in English are available Two translations from the 19th century now in the public domain are those by Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1 and Manmatha Nath Dutt 2 The translations vary with each translator s interpretations Debroy in 2011 notes 7 that updated critical edition of Ashramvasik Parva after removing about 30 of verses generally accepted so far as spurious and inserted into the original has 3 parts 47 adhyayas chapters and 1 061 shlokas verses Quotes and teachings EditThis section is a candidate to be copied to Wikiquote using the Transwiki process Ashramvasika parva Chapter 5 Let thy judicial officers O Yudhishthira inflict punishments on offenders according to the law after careful determination of the gravity of the offenses Dhritarashtra Ashramvasika Parva Mahabharata Book xv 5 8 Putradarsana parva Chapter 34 He who knows himself attains the highest understanding and becomes freed from error All creatures appear from an invisible state and once more disappear into invisibleness He enjoys or endures the fruits of all his act where he does them If the act be a mental one its consequences are enjoyed or endured mentally If it is done with the body its consequences are to be enjoyed or endured in the body Vaisampayana Ashramvasika Parva Mahabharata Book xv 34 9 See also EditPrevious book of Mahabharata Ashvamedhika Parva Next book of Mahabharata Mausala ParvaReferences Edit a b c Ganguli K M 1883 1896 Asramavasika Parva in The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa 12 Volumes Calcutta a b c d Dutt M N 1905 The Mahabharata Volume 15 Ashramavasika Parva Calcutta Elysium Press van Buitenen J A B 1973 The Mahabharata Book 1 The Book of the Beginning Chicago IL University of Chicago Press p 478 Debroy B 2010 The Mahabharata Volume 1 Gurgaon Penguin Books India pp xxiii xxvi John Murdoch 1898 The Mahabharata An English Abridgment Christian Literature Society for India London pages 125 128 Mahabharata Table of Contents The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin Retrieved 2021 03 01 Bibek Debroy The Mahabharata Volume 3 ISBN 978 0143100157 Penguin Books pp xxiii xxiv of Introduction Ashramvasik Parva The Mahabharata Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1895 Chapter 5 page 16 Ashramvasik Parva The Mahabharata Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1895 Chapter 34 page 77External links EditAshramvasik Parva English Translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli Ashramvasik Parva English Translation by Manmatha Nath Dutt Ashramvasik Parva in Sanskrit by Vyasadeva with commentary by Nilakantha Worldcat OCLC link Ashramvasik Parva in Sanskrit and Hindi by Ramnarayandutt Shastri Volume 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ashramavasika Parva amp oldid 1122119019, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
