Mahabharat Story Summary & PDF Downloads in Hindi, English

If you wish to read the summary of the story of Mahabharat, scroll down. If you wish to download the complete Mahabharat as pdf, use the links below. All the files are in pdf format. Right-click and choose Save As to download.

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Mahabharat Story in PDF – English, Hindi & Sanskrit

English (In Verse): Download (PDF, 9MB) by RC Dutt.

English (Prose Version): Download, (PDF 22 MB) by Kisari Mohan Ganguli.

Hindi Download (PDF 12 MB) by Narottam Vyas, 1926 edition.

Print versions of the Mahabharata are available on Flipkart in India and Amazon in the US.
Flipkart has: Mahabharata by C. Rajagopalachari is the cheapest, while the 12-volume Mahabharata by Kisari Mohan Ganguli is the most comprehensive. For kids, Amar Chitra Katha’s 3-volume Mahabharata comic is the best.

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Mahabharat Story Table of Contents (as in PDF)

I. ADI PARVA
CHAPTER I
1. Invocation. 2. The Sacrifice of the Snake. 3. Vyasa and Ganesha. 4. The Character of the Mahabharata.

THE BIRTH OF HEROES
5. The Story of Uparichara. 6. Satyavati and Vyasa. 7. The Court of Brahma : Mahabhisheka and Ganga. 8. Pratipa and Ganga. 9. Santanu. 10. Santanu and Ganga. 11. Bhishma or Dvaus. 12. Santanu and Satvavati. 13. Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. 14. Amba, Ambika, Ambalika. 15. The Niyoga of Vyasa. 16. Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. 17. The Marriage of the Princes. 18. Gandhari. 19. One Hundred Sons of Dhritarashtra.

KUNTIAND KARNA
20. The Story of Kunti. 21. The Birth of Karna.

THE FIVE PANDAVA BROTHERS
22. Pritha and Pandu. 23. Pandu and Madri. 24. The Five Sons of Pandu. 25. The Death of Pandu and Madri. 26. The Death of Satyavati and Ambalika.
KRIPA AND DRONA

27. The Story of Kripa. 28. The Story of Drona. 29. Asvatthaman.
DRUPADA AND DRONA
30. Drupada. 31. Drupada and Drona.
CHAPTER VII
THE PROFICIENCY OF THE PRINCES
32. Drona as a Teacher of the Princes. 33. The Proficiency of the Princes. 34. The Tournament. 35. Arjuna and Karna. 36. The Defeat of Drupada. 37. Yudhishthira as Heir-Apparent: Bhishma and Balarama.
CHAPTER VIII THE HOUSE OF LAC OR
38. The Hostility of the Kauravas. 39. Vidura to the Rescue. 40. The House of Lac. 41. In the House of Lac. 42. The Burning of the House. 43. Across the Ganga. 44. Kunti is Thirsty. 45. Hidimba. 46. Bheema and Hidimba: Ghatotkacha. 47. The Slaying of Vaka.

THE WEDDING OF DRAUPADI
48. The Sacrifice of Drupada. 49. The Birth of Dhrishtadyumna. 50. The Birth of Draupadi or Krishna: Shikhandin. 51. Dhaumya. 52. The Potter’s House. 53. The Test. 54. Krishna recognizes the Pandavas. 55. Shooting the Mark: Karna’s Attempt. 56. The Success of Arjuna. 57. The Wife of Five.
CHAPTER X
THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM
58. The Pandavas at Home. 59. The Division of the Kingdom.
CHAPTER XI
THE EXILE OF ARJUNA
60. Life at Indraprastha. 61. Arjuna’s Exile. 62. The Wives of Arjuna: Arjuna and Ulupi. 63. Arjuna and Chitrangada. 64. Arjuna and Subhadra. 65. The Birth of Abhimanyu. 66. The Sons of Draupadi
CHAPTER XII
THE BURNING OF THE KANDAVYA FOREST
67. The Burning of the Kandavya Forest.

II. SABHI PARVA CHAPTER XIII
THE ASSEMBLY HALL OF YUDHISHTHIRA
68. The Assembly Hall of Yudhishtira. 69. The Visit of Narada. 70. The Arrival of Krishna. 71. The Death of Jarasandha. 72. The Rajasuya Sacrifice. 73. The Arghya. 74. Sisupala. 75. The Threat of Sahadeva. 76. The Death of Sisupala. 77. The End of the Sacrifice.
CHAPTER XIV
THE ASSEMBLY HALL OF THE KAURAVAS

78. The Chagrin of Duryodhana. 79. The Proposal of Sakuni. 80. The Assembly Hall of the Kauravas. 81. The Commission of Vidura.
CHAPTER XV
THE GAME OF DICE

82. The PanJavas at Hastinapura. 83. The Rules of the Game. 84. Sakuni and Yudhishthira as Players. 85. The Game of Dice. 86. The Deceit of Sakuni.
CHAPTER XVI
THE ANGUISH OF DRAUPAD/
OR
SACRIFICE AND THE IDEA OF GOD 241
87. The Stake of Draupadi. 88. Draupadi and the Assembly Hall. 89. The Question of Draupadi. 90. Yudhisthira’s Message to Draupadi. 91. The Outrage of Dusasana. 92. The Anguish of Draupadi. 93. Bhishma’s Reply.
94. The Unrobing of Pandavas and Draupadi.
95. Krishna to the Rescue. 96. The Vow of Bhima. 97. The Question of Draupadi repeated. 98. Bhishma’s Answer. 99. Duryodhana’s Thigh. 100. Dhritarashira’s Intervention. 101. The Second Game. 102. Preparations for Exile. 103. Farewell.
III. VANA PARVA
CHAPTER XVII
ON THE BANKS OF THE GANGA
OR
THE PROGRESS OF MAN FROM NYAYA TO THE VAISESHIKA 265
104. The Banks of the Ganga. 105. The Discourse of Saunaka. 106. The Worship of the Sun. 107. Draupadi and the Boon of the Sun. 108. The Forest of Kamyaka.
CHAPTER XVIII
IN THE KAMYAKA FOREST
OR
THE CHARACTER AND SCOPE
OF THE VALSESHIKA 273
109. The Visit of Vidura and Krishna. 110. The Worship of Krishna, 111. The Cause of the Pandavas’ Misfortune. 112. The Departure of Krishna, and Abhimanyu.
CHAPTER XIX
THE FOREST OF DVAITA
OR
THE PROGRESS OF MAN FROM VA1SESH1KA TO YOGA 278
113. The Forest of Dvaita. 114. The Discourse of Draupadi 115. The Advice of Vyasa.
CHAPTER XX
THE MISSION OF ARJUNA
OR
MAN ATTAINS TO YOGA-VEDANTA
OR QUALIFIED MONISM 283
116. The Mission of Arjuna. 117. Niva and Arjuna. 118. The Gifts of the Gods. 119, In the City of Indra.
CHAPTER XXI
THE PILGRIMAGE OF THE VANDAVAS
OR
SELF-REALIZATION OF BUDDHI,
MIND AND THE SENSES 295
120. The Pilgrimage of the Pandavas. 121. The Help of Ghatotkacha. 122. The Celestial Lotus. 123. Bhima and Hanuman. 124. Bhima and the Lotus. 125. Absorption in Yoga. 126. The Return of Arjuna.
CHAPTER XXII THE VISIT OF KRISHNA
OR ,
A REVIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF MAN 305
127. Dvaitavana and Kamyaka again. 128. The Visit of Krishna and Satyabhama. 129. Narada and Markandeya. 130. The Departure of Krishna.
CHAPTER XXIII
DURYODHANA IN DVAITAVANA
OR
THE IDEA OF BUDDHI IN QUALIFIED
MONISM AND IN BUDDHISM AND
JAINISM 310
131. Duryodhana in Dvaitavana.
CHAPTER XXIV
KARNA’S CONQUEST OF THE WORLD
OR
THE IDEA OF SACRIFICE IN THE
SANKHYA 316
132. Karna and Sacrifice with the Golden Plough.
CHAPTER XXV
JAYADRATHA AND DRAUPADI
OR
SACRIFICE IN RELATION TO BUDDHISM AND JAINISM 321
133. Jayadratha and Draupadi T34. The Disgrace of Jayadratha. 135. Jayadratha and Mahadeva.
CHAPTER XXVI
THE STORIES OF RAMA AND SAVITRI
OR
SACRIFICE IN VAISHNAVISM 328
136. The Stories of Rama and Savitri.
CHAPTER XXVII
KARNA AND INDRA
OR
THE TRUE SACRIFICE OF FOOD 342
137. Indra and Karna’s Armour and Ear-rings.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE QUESTIONS OF THE CRANE
OR
THE END OF QUALIFIED MONISM 345
138. The Questions of the Crane.
IV. VIRATA PARVA
CHAPTER XXIX
THE PANDAVAS IN THE KINGDOM
OF VIRATA
OR
PURE VEDANTA IN THE WORLD OF LIFE 352
139. The Disguise of the Pandavas. 140. To Virata’s Kingdom. 141. The Disposal of Weapons. 142. In the King’s Service.
CHAPTER XXX
KICHAKA AND DRAUPADI
OR
THE IDEA OF SACRIFICE IN PURE VEDANTA AND OTHER SYSTEMS 360
143. Kichaka and Draupadi. 144. Bhima and Kichaka.
CHAPTER XXXI
THE COWS OF VIRATA
OR
THE PROOF OF VEDANTA . 366
145. The Capture of the Cows. 146. The Fight. 147. Uttara and Arjuna. 148. Arjuna in Arms. 149. The End of Exile. 150. The Defeat of the Kauravas.
CHAPTER XXXII
UTTARA, ARJUNA AND ABHIMANYU
OR
THE CHARACTER OF THE SOUL
IN YOGA-VEDANTA 376
151. Uttara and Abhimanyu. 152. The Pandavas in Upaplavya.

V. UDYOGA PARVA CHAPTER XIII
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR 79

153. The Advice of Krishna. 154. The Assistance of Krishna. 155. Balarama’s Neutrality. 156. Kritavarman. 157. Krishna and Arjuna. 158. The Part of Salya. 159. Satya and the Pandavas.

The Forces of Pandavas and Kauravas.

CHAPTER XIV
THE MESSENGERS OF PEACE

The Embassies. 162. The Mission of Sanjaya. 163. Krishna’s Intervention. 164. The Offer of Krishna. 165. The Offer of Yudhishthira: five Villages. 166. The Advice of Vidura. 167. The Discourse of Sanat-Sujata. 168. The Council of Peace. 169. Duryodhana’s Determination.

CHAPTER XV

THE MISSION OF KRISHNA go

170. Krishna at Hastinapura. 171. Krishna’s Reception. 172. The Resolve of Duryodhana. 173. Krishna Among the Kauravas. 174. Krishna in the Assembly Hall. 175 The Advice of Krishna. 176. The King’s Helplessness.
177. Duryodhana’s Resolve. 178. Krishna’s Rebuke. 179. Gandhari’s Advice. 180. The Capture of Krishna. 181. The Divine Form of Krishna. 182. Krishna’s Return : the Message of Kunti.
183. Krishna and Karna. 184. Kunti and Karna. 185. Krishna’s Return. 186. Dhrishtadyumna’s Command. 187.The Field of Kurukshetra. 188. The Kaurava Forces: Bhishma’s Command. 189. Bhishma and Karna. 190. The Vow of Bhishma.
19r. The Story of Sikhandin. 192. The
Order of Battle.

VI. BHISHMA PARVA CHAPTER XVI
THE FIELD OF BATTLE

193. The Rules of Combat. 194. Sanjaya and Dhritarashtra. 195. The Battle Arrays.
CHAPTER XVII THE BHAGAVAD GITA
196. Chapter I : The Grief of Arjuna at Yoga. 197. Chapter II : Yoga in Relation to Sankhya. 198. Chapter III : Yoga in Relation to Action. 199. Chapter IV : Yoga in Relation to Knowledge and Action. 200. Chapter V : Yoga in Relation to Renunciation. 200. Yoga in Relation to Soul-Knowledge.
202. Chapter VII : Yoga in Relation to the Understanding of Knowledge. 203. Chapter VIII Yoga in Relation to Imperishable Brahma. 204. Chapter IX : Yoga in Relation to the Secret of Rajas. 205. Chapter X: Yoga in Relation to the Glimpse of Divine Glory.
206. Chapter XI : Yoga in Relation to a Vision of the Universal Form. 207. Yoga in Relation to Devotion.
208. Chapter XIII : Yoga in Relation to the Field and Knower of the Field.
209. Chapter XIV : Yoga in Relation to the Division of Three Gunas. 210. Chapter XV : Yoga in Relation to the Supreme Purusha. 2II. Chapter XVI : Yoga in Relation to the Division of Divine and Demoniac Attributes. 212. Chapter XVII : Yoga in Relation to the Three­fold Path. 213. Chapter XVIII. Yoga in Relation to Renunciation.

CHAPTER XVIII

BHISHMA’S BATTLE OF TEN DAYS
214. The First Day of Battle. 215. Yuyutsu Joins the Pandavas. 216. The Battle. 217. The Second Day of Battle.
218. The Third Day of Battle. 219. The Fourth Day of Battle. 220. The Fifth Day of Battle. 221. The Sixth Day of Battle. 222. The Seventh Day of Battle. 223. The Eighth Day of Battle.
224. The Ninth Day of Battle. 225. The Tenth Day of Battle. 226. Bhishma’s Advice. 227. Sikhandin’s Part. 228. The Fall of Bhishma. 229. The Bed of Arrows. 230. Arjuna Brings out Water from the Earth. 231. Bhishma’s Advice to Duryodhana. 232. Karna seeks Permission to fight.

VII. DRONA PARVA CHAPTER XIX
DRONA’S BATTLE OF FIVE DAYS 206

233. Drona as Commander-in-chief.
234. The Eleventh Day of Battle. 235. The Attempt to Capture Yudhishthira. 236. The Twelfth Day of Battle. 237 The Battle Arrays. 238. The Fight. 239 Arjuna and Samsaptakas : Krishna’s Part.
240. The Thirteenth Day of Battle. 241. The Circular Array. The Task of Abhimanyu. 243. Abhimanyu’s Fight.
244. The Death of Abhimanyu. 245. Vyasa Consoles Yudhishthira. The Vow of Arjuna. 247. The Difference between Arjuna and Jayadratha. 248. Krishna’s Part. 249 The Vlorship of 1\fahadeva. 250. The Weapons of Mahadeva. 251. The Fourteenth Day of Battle: Drona’s Arrays. 252. Arjuna’s Fight 253. The Horses of Arjuna.
254. The General Fight. 255. The Death of Bhurisravas. 256. The Death of Jayadratha. 257 The Night Attack. 258. The Lamp-Light Attack.
259 The Death of Ghatotkacha. 260.
The Moon-Light Fight. 261. The Fifteenth Day of Battle. 262. Asvatthaman the Elephant. 263. Drona Questions Yudhishthira. 264. Krishna’s Advice to Yudhishthira. 265. Yudhishthira’s Lie. 266.

The Chariot of Yudhishthira 267. Dhrishtadyumna Slays Drona. 268. The Vow of Asvatthaman. 26g. The Narayana Weapon.
270. The Vision of Arjuna.

VIII. KARNA PARVA CHAPTER XX
KARNA’S BATTLE OF TWO DAYS 224

27r. Kama as Commander-in-chief.
272. The Sixteenth Day of Battle. 273 The Seventeenth Day of Battle. 274- Fight between Arjuna and Karna. 275. Karna Charges the Pandavas. 276. Krishna’s Advice to Arjuna. 277. The Quarrel between Yudhisthira and Arjuna.
278. Bhima Slays Dushasana and Drinks his Blood. 279 Fight between Arjuna and Karna: the Death of Karna.

IX. SALYA PARVA CHAPTER XXI
THE DEFEAT OF KAURAVAS 229

280. The Grief of Duryodhana. 281. The Eighteenth Day of Battle : Salya as Commander-in-chief. 282. The Combat.
283. The Death of Salya. 284. A General Fight. 285. The Attempt of Duryodhana. 286. Duryodhana in the Lake.
287. Krishna’s Advice to Pandavas. 288. The Challenge. 289. The Fight with Mace. The Anxiety of Krishna. 291. Balarama as a Witness.
292. The Fight. 293 Krishna’s Opinion and Advice. 294. The Death of Duryodhana. 295. The Result of Duryodhana’s Fall. 296. The Anger of Balarama. 297. The Pandavas in Duryodhana’s Tent. 298. The Burning of Arjuna’s Car. 299 Oghavati. 300. Krishna in Hastinapura. 301. The Survivors of Kauravas. 302. The Hope of Duryodhana. 303. The Vow of Asvatthaman.

X. SAUPTIKA PARVA CHAPTER XXII
THE SLAUGHTER IN SLEEP 238 304. The Scheme of Asvatthaman. 305. The Slaughter of Panchalas. 306. The Survivors of the Pandavas. 307. The Gem of Asvatthaman. 308. The Weapon of Asvatthaman.

XI. STRI PARVA CHAPTER XXIII
THE WAIL OF WOMEN 309. The Grief of Women. 310. Yudhishthira meets Dhritarashtra. 311. The Statue of Iron. 312. The Curse of Gandhari. 313. The Funeral Ceremonies.

XII. SANTI PARVA CHAPTER XXIV
THE PHILOSOPHY OF PEACE 214. The Doubts of Yudhishthira. 315. The Opinion of Devasthana and Vyasa. 316. The Advice of Krishna.
317. Bhishma Worships Krishna. 318. Krishna asks Bhishma to teach Yudhishthira. 319. Bhishma’s Discourse. 320. The Discourse of Bhrigu. 321. The Discourse of Bhishma. 322. The Opinion of Manu. 323. The Discourse of Bhishma. 324. The Discourse of Vyasa. 325. The Names of Mahadeva.
326. The Difference between Sankhya and Yoga. 327. The Discourse of Vasishtha. 328. Narada’s Hymn to Narayana. 329. The Vision of Narada.
330. Brahman’s Hymn to Narayana.

XIII. ANUSASANA PARVA

331. The Worship 332. Bhishma Adores The Death of Bhishma. of Mahadeva Krishna.

XIV. ASVAMEDHA PARVA CHAPTER XXVI
THE SACRIFICE OF THE HORSE 282 334 The Advice of Vyasa. 335 The Request of Arjuna. 336. Anugita.
337 The Horse Sacrifice. 338. The Birth of Parikshit. 339 The Intitiation of Yudhishthira. 340. The Horse set free. 341. Arjuna and Babhruvahana.
342. The Sacrifice of the Horse. THE DEATH OF DHRITARASHTRA The Reign of Pandavas and Dhritarashtra. 344 Dhritarashtra Retires.
345 Kunti’s Advice. 346. The Hermitage of Vyasa. 348. The Death of Vidura. 349 A Vision of the Dead. 350. The Death of Dhritarashtra and Others.

XVI. MAUSALA PARVA CHAPTER XXVIII
351. After Thirty-six Years. 352. The Disguise of Samba : the Iron Bolt. 353 The Iron Bolt : the Command of Krishna. 354 The Pilgrimage. 355 The Drunken Revelry . 356. The Destruction of Vrishnis and Andhakas. 357 The Death of Balarama. 358. The Death of Krishna. 359 The Arrival of Arjuna.360. The Message of Krishna. 361. The Death of Vasudeva. 362. The Submersion of Dwaraka. 363. The Attack of Robbers. 364. The Advice of Vyasa.

XVII. MAHAPRASTHANA PARVA CHAPTER XXIX
THE PASSING OF THE PANDAVAS 301
365. The Successors of the Pandavas. 366. The Last Journey. 367. The Death of Pandavas. 368. Yudhishthira and his Dog.
XVIII. SVARGAROHANIKA PARVA CHAPTER XXX

THE ASCENT TO HEAVEN

369. The Illusion of Hell. 370. The Abode of Happy One The Vision of Heaven. 372. The End.

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