The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Book 2 Sabha Parva

Book excerpt: The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. It is an epic narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kauravas and the Pandava princes as well as containing philosophical and devotional material, such as a discussion of the four goals of life. Here we have Sabha Parva, the second, discusses how Maya Danava erects the palace and court at Indraprastha, how life at the court and the eventual exile of the Pandavas. It also gives details of how and why the Krishna, Arujna and Bheem kill Jarasandha, and how Krishna kills Shishupala. Vyasa is a revered figure in Hindu traditions. He is a kala-Avatar or part-incarnation of God Vishnu. Vyasa is sometimes conflated by some Vaishnavas with Badarayana, the compiler of the Vedanta Sutras and considered to be one of the seven Chiranjivins. He is also the fourth member of the Rishi Parampara of the Advaita Guru Parampar of which Adi Shankara is the chief proponent.