Mahabharata

 Mahabharata

The story narrated by the seer mage,
Scribed by the god with two tusk,
Was appropos to any and all age,
Had to be written by both being unstuck. (Prelude to the Adi Parva)

The stories of the ancestors great,
And the stories of the dynasty,
And the story of the princes and the state,
Laid the ground work for the rivalry. (Adi Parva)

The magic of the court and the great hall,
Was marred by the game of dice,
Which would lead to a great fall,
Ignoring the advice of the wise. (Sabha Parva)

The adventures of the princes in the forest,
And the piety of the woman born of fire,
Were put mightily to the test,
And whose resolve would be strengthened by desire. (Vana Parva)

The disguise of the virtuous six,
For a whole year was done with mettle,
Then came a danger with a great fix,
And would find its end in battle.       (Virata Parva)

The lord of the three worlds and wisdom,
Went on a mission to find peace reluctantly,
He asked for a piece of a kingdom,
And walked away with a call for war gladly. (Udyoga Parva)

The story of the great grandsire,
Whose deeds were stuff of legend,
His intents was as pure as fire,
In devotion and bravery he was never second. (Bheeshma Parva)

The teacher who was not born of a woman,
Loved his student more than his son,
His pride and prejudice belied his human,
And seeking truth his soul went to heaven. (Drona Parva)

The bravery of the charioteer’s son,
Was exceed only by his charity,
He did not heed the words of the sun,
And paid the price for his integrity. (Karna Parva)

The bravery of the Uncle maternal,
Who was bound by his word and knew no fear,
His intent was always calm and fraternal,
And met his end calmly from a spear. (Shalya Parva)

The cowardice of the warriors three,
Their rage and hatred ran very deep,
In their attempt to set it free,
And killed many combatants in their sleep. (Sauptika Parva)

The rage of the woman who was blind,
Was focused on the man who was dark hued,
She tried in vain to find peace in her mind,
And alas she cursed in haste and rued. (Stri Parva)

The wit and wisdom of the great grandfather,
After the just and wise king was anointed,
Was preached to take the new ruler further,
And the people listening were not disappointed. (Shanti Parva)

The last day of the son of the great river,
Was spent teaching to his favorite ward,
He who had not known any fear and had a full quiver,
Passed on when the sun aligned for his reward. (Anushasana Parva)

The kingdom was made great by the march of the horse,
And the lesson thought at the beginning of the great battle,
To the great warrior in war who showed no remorse,
By his maternal cousin who was a world teacher in mettle. (Ashwamedha Parva and the re-teaching of the Geeta by Krishna to Arjuna)

The wise man and the royal citizens of old age,
Recognized the need for wisdom and to enquire,
Went to the forest to live in a hermitage,
Who were consumed by a great fire. (Ashramavasika Parva)

The anger of the blind woman and  sages,
Enabled by the members of the royal race,
Led to a curse and a great outrage,
And mets it end by a might mace. (Mausala Parva or the chapter of the mace)

The travels by the dog, brothers five and lass,
And beyond the ascent of the great mountain,
Only the embodiment of justice could pass,
Whose virtue was an endless fountain. (Mahaprasthanika Parva or the great journey)

The great king of eternal wisdom and right,
Was shown a piece of hell and tested,
To see if his grit and virtue could fight,
And showed he could not be bested. (Svargorahana Parva)

The epic that contains many stories,
Has chapters that are eighteen,
The listening of it leads to glories,
And makes the soul and life clean. (Benediction of the poem)