Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Penguin Translated Texts) Read Online Free PDF

Mahabharata? In 1924, George Mallory, with his fellow climber Andrew Irvine, may or may not have climbed Mount Everest. They were last seen a few hundred metres from the summit, before they died. Mallory was once asked why he wanted to climb Everest and he answered, ‘Because it’s there.’ Taken out of context, there is no better reason for wanting to translate the Mahabharata. There is a steep mountain to climb. And I would not have dared had I not been able to stand of the shoulders of the three intellectual giants who have preceded me—Kisori Mohan Ganguli, Manmatha Nath Dutt and J.A.B. van Buitenen.
    Bibek Debroy

The third volume completes the Vana Parva, the account of the Pandavas’ sojourn in the forest. It details the dharma obtained from, and descriptions of, places of pilgrimage. It recounts the stories of Agastya, Rishyashringa, Kartavirya, Sukanya and Chyavana, Mandhata, Jantu, Shibi, Ashtavakra, Yavakrita, Jatasura, and Markandeya. The narrative covers Arjuna’s slaying of the nivatakavacha demons; the Kouravas’ defeat at the hands of the gandharvas and their subsequent release by the Pandavas; Droupadi’s abduction by Jayadratha and rescue by the Pandavas; and Indra’s visit to Karna to rob him of his earrings and armour.

Section Forty
Mriga-Svapna-Bhaya Parva
This parva has sixteen shlokas and one chapter.
Mriga
means deer. Deer appear to Yudhishthira in a dream
(svapna)
and tell him about their fears
(bhaya),
requesting the Pandavas to relocate from Dvaitavana.
541(244)
    Janamejaya asked, ‘After having freed Duryodhana, what did the immensely strong Pandavas do in that forest? You should tell me this.’
    Vaishampayana said, ‘One night, when Kounteya Yudhishthira was asleep in Dvaitavana, the deer showed themselves to him in a dream. Their voices were choked with tears. They trembled and stood before him, their feet joined in salutation. The Indra among kings told them, “Who are you and what do you wish for? Tell me what you desire.” Having been thus addressed by the famous Kounteya Pandava, the remaining deer 1 spoke to Yudhishthira. “O descendant of the Bharata lineage! We are the remnants of the deer in Dvaitavana.O great king! Find a residence somewhere else. Otherwise, all of us will be killed. All your brothers are brave and are skilled in the use of weapons. They have reduced the lineage of those that live in the forest, until only a few remain. O immensely intelligent one! A few of us have been left, as seed for the future. O Indra among kings! O Yudhishthira! Let us extend through your favours.” On seeing the trembling and frightened deer, with only a few remaining as seed, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira was extremely unhappy. The king was always engaged in the welfare of all beings. He told them, “It shall be as you say. I will do what you have asked me to.” He took an oath in this fashion. When night was over, the supreme among kings was filled with compassion towards the deer and spoke to his brothers. “The deer that still remain spoke to me in a dream last night. They said, ‘O fortunate one! Only a few of us remain as seed. You should show compassion towards us.’ They spoke the truth. We should show compassion towards those who live in the forest. We have lived on them for one year and eight months. Therefore, let us go towards the supreme and beautiful forest of Kamyaka, which is full of large numbers of deer. It is located at the head of the desert, near the famous lake of Trinabindu. Let us pleasantly pass the rest of our time there.” O king! The Pandavas, learned in dharma, swiftly left, together with the brahmanas who lived with them, and followed by Indrasena 2 and the other servants. They followed an excellent road that was full of superb grain and pure water. They soon saw the sacred hermitage of Kamyaka, populated by ascetics. O best of the Bharata lineage! Surrounded by the bulls among the brahmanas, the Kouravyas entered it, like virtuous ones entering