Itihasa — the two great epics

Rama's birth + childhood + marriage. Valmiki composes the Ramayana under Narada's instruction. Vishvamitra takes Rama to slay Tataka. Rama lifts Shiva's bow + marries Sita at Janakapura.

Dasharatha decides on Rama's coronation. Kaikeyi (poisoned by Manthara) demands the two boons — Bharata enthroned, Rama exiled for 14 years. Rama, Sita and Lakshmana leave Ayodhya. Dasharatha's death from grief. Bharata refuses the throne, takes Rama's padukas instead.

Forest exile. Rama, Sita, Lakshmana live at Panchavati on Godavari. Shurpanakha's mutilation. Khara + Dushana slain. The golden deer Maricha → Sita's abduction by Ravana. Jatayu mortally wounded trying to stop the chariot.

Alliance with the vanaras. Rama meets Hanuman + Sugriva at Pampa. Sugriva's exile from brother Vali; Rama slays Vali, restores Sugriva. The four-direction search for Sita. Sampati identifies Lanka. Hanuman jumps the ocean.

Hanuman's journey to Lanka. Mainaka's offer. Surasa's test. Sinhika slain. Hanuman finds Sita at Ashoka vatika. Ravana's threats. Hanuman delivers Rama's ring + receives Sita's chudamani. Hanuman destroys Ravana's grove, burns Lanka, returns to Rama. The "beautiful" kanda — most-recited as a stand-alone parayana.

The war. Setu-bandhana — the bridge to Lanka. Vibhishana defects. Kumbhakarna + Indrajit slain. The final battle: Rama vs. Ravana. Sita's agnipariksha. Rama-rajya-pattabhisheka at Ayodhya — coronation, Hanuman receives the choicest blessing.

Post-coronation. Sita's second exile (washerman's gossip). Lava + Kusha born to Valmiki at the ashrama. They sing the Ramayana before Rama unknowingly. Sita's return to her mother Bhumi. Rama's ascension. Considered a later addition by some scholars — many recitation traditions omit it.

Beginnings. Vyasa's composition. The lineage of the Kurus from Shantanu through Bhishma, Pandu, Dhritarashtra. Birth of the Pandavas + Kauravas. Drona becomes their guru. Draupadi swayamvara — five Pandavas marry her.

The assembly hall. Yudhishthira's rajasuya yajna. Shishupala slain by Krishna. The fatal dice game — Yudhishthira loses everything including Draupadi. Draupadi vastraharana. 13-year exile begins.

The forest. Pandavas' 12-year exile. Many side-narratives: Nala-Damayanti, Savitri-Satyavan, Markandeya's story of the Tortoise. Arjuna's tapas → Pashupatastra from Shiva. Yaksha-prashna at the lake — Yama's riddles to Yudhishthira.

13th year of exile — incognito. Pandavas serve King Virata of Matsya in disguise. Yudhishthira as scholar, Bhima as cook, Arjuna as Brihannala (eunuch dance-teacher), Nakula + Sahadeva as stable-hands, Draupadi as Sairandhri. Keechaka attempts Draupadi — slain by Bhima. Trigarta + Kuru cattle-raid foiled by Arjuna — incognito revealed.

Preparation. Both sides muster armies. Krishna's peace embassy to Hastinapura — Duryodhana refuses. Karna's identity revealed by Kunti + Krishna; Karna refuses to switch sides. Bhishma + Drona + Karna placed in command for Kauravas. Battle field at Kurukshetra readied.

War day 1-10 under Bhishma's generalship. The Bhagavad Gita — Krishna teaches Arjuna in chapters 25-42 of this parva. Bhishma falls on day 10 to Arjuna's arrows (Shikhandi as shield). Lies on the bed of arrows awaiting Uttarayana.

War day 11-15 under Drona's generalship. Abhimanyu enters and is slain in the chakravyuha. Jayadratha-vadham on day 14. Drona's death by deception (Ashwatthama-vadham lie). Karna takes over.

War day 16-17 under Karna's generalship. Karna vs. Arjuna — Karna's chariot-wheel sinks; Karna defenceless; Arjuna kills him at Krishna's urging. Shalya takes command for day 18.

War day 18. Shalya as commander — slain by Yudhishthira mid-day. Sahadeva slays Shakuni. Duryodhana flees to hide in a lake. Bhima drags him out for the gada-yuddha — Bhima breaks his thigh below the navel (Krishna's signal). Duryodhana mortally wounded. War ends.

Night massacre. Ashwatthama, Kripa, Kritavarma slip into the Pandava camp at night. Ashwatthama kills Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, Draupadi's five sons. Pandavas mourn; Krishna confronts Ashwatthama; the Brahmashira retaliation is averted by Krishna; the Mani is taken from Ashwatthama's forehead. He is cursed to wander, festering, for ages.

The women's lament. Gandhari arrives at Kurukshetra; sees her hundred sons' bodies. Curses Krishna — Yadava-kula will perish in 36 years. Dhritarashtra crushes the iron Bhima-statue Krishna substituted. Bhishma's shastra-shaiya continues — Yudhishthira coronated.

Yudhishthira's coronation + Bhishma's teaching from the bed of arrows. Three sections — Raja-dharma, Apad-dharma, Moksha-dharma. The Vishnu Sahasranama is taught here. The longest parva, an entire encyclopedia of dharma-shastra.

Bhishma's further instructions. Ethics of gift-giving, tirtha-yatra, vrata-vidhi. Bhishma finally departs on Magha Shukla Ashtami when the sun enters Uttarayana — ichchamrityu fulfilled.

Yudhishthira's ashwamedha yajna to expiate the war's sins. Arjuna leads the horse through every kingdom. Many minor battles. Includes the Anu-Gita — Krishna re-teaches the Gita to Arjuna who had forgotten parts.

Old Dhritarashtra + Gandhari + Kunti retire to the forest. Yudhishthira visits them. They are consumed by a forest fire — accepted in tradition as their chosen end. Vyasa shows the Pandavas their kin in a vision on the Ganga.

Yadava destruction. The mock-pregnancy-curse from the rishis (in Sauptika) ripens — Samba's "iron club" pulverised; pieces eaten by fish, become reeds. Yadavas brawl with reeds at Prabhasa; the entire clan annihilates itself. Krishna ascends to his own loka. Balarama dies as Shesha returns to the sea. The Mausala (club) curse fulfilled — 36 years after Kurukshetra.

The great departure. Yudhishthira places Parikshit on the throne; the five brothers + Draupadi + a dog walk north to Himavat. They fall one by one. Yudhishthira alone, with the dog (Dharma in disguise), reaches Indra's chariot.

Ascent to heaven. Yudhishthira sees the Kauravas in svarga + his own brothers in apparent hell — Indra's final test of his equanimity. The vision lifts; everyone in their true place. The epic closes on Krishna's eternal Vishnu-form.