Sabha Parva

Dushasana attempts to disrobe Draupadi in the court of Hastinapura, a scene from the Sabha Parva by Raja Ravi Varma

Sabha Parva, also called the "Book of the Assembly Hall", is the second of eighteen books of Mahabharata.[1] Sabha Parva traditionally has 10 parts and 81 chapters.[2][3] The critical edition of Sabha Parva has 9 parts and 72 chapters.[4][5]

Sabha Parva starts with the description of the palace and assembly hall (sabha) built by Maya, at Indraprastha. Chapter 5 of the book outlines over a hundred principles of governance and administration necessary for a kingdom and its citizens to be prosperous, virtuous and happy. The middle parts describe life at the court, Yudhishthira's Rajasuya Yajna that leads to the expansion of the Pandava brothers' empire. The last two parts describe the one vice and addiction of the virtuous king Yudhishthira – gambling.[6] Shakuni, encouraged by Duryodhana, mocks Yudhishthira and tempts him into a game of dice. Yudhishthira bets everything and loses the game, leading to the eventual exile of the Pandavas.[3][7]

The book also details the principle of evil and crime against humanity, of why individuals who themselves have not been harmed must act regardless when society at large suffers systematic crime and injustice – this theory is outlined in the story of Magadha, Chapters 20 through 24, where the trio of Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima slay Jarasandha.[3][8]

  1. ^ van Buitenen, J. A. B. (1978) The Mahabharata: Book 2: The Book of the Assembly Hall; Book 3: The Book of the Forest. Chicago: University of Chicago Press
  2. ^ Ganguli, K.M. (1883–1896) "Sabha Parva" in The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (12 Volumes). Calcutta
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference mnd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ van Buitenen, J.A.B. (1973) The Mahabharata: Book 1: The Book of the Beginning. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, pp 475–476
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference bdvol3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Monier Williams (1868), Indian Epic Poetry, University of Oxford, Williams & Norgate – London, p. 23
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference kmg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference pw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).