The Stri Parva is the 10th book of the Mahabharata and as the name suggests is based on women. It discusses the impact of the 18 day war on the women, the mothers and sisters of the warriors who died in the battle. It also showed the imoact of the war on Dhritarashtra. The Stri Parva consists of 4 sub parvas and 27 chapters. The following are the 4 sub parvas of the Stri Parva:
- Vishoka Parva, consisting of 2 chapters
- Stri Parva, consisting of 10 chapters
- Shraddha Parva, consisting of 2 chapters
- Jalapradanika Parva, consisting of 13 chapters
The summary of the Stri Parva is:
The Stri Parva is the book of Women and describes the impact of the war on the women of the society whose sons and brothers died fighting in the battlefield. The opened with Dhritarashtra being distressed at the loss of his hundred sons and relatives. He was lamenting over their deaths and Sanjaya was consoling him. He also regretted to have given Duryodhana so much liberty to take rash decisions. He even regretted having not listened to the advice of Lord Krishna who tried with all his conviction to stop the war from happening. Even Vyasa and Vidura consoled him by saying that death is destined to all.
Yudhishthira and his brothers came to meet Dhritarashtra, followed by Draupadi and other women of Panchalas. They then went to the bank of the Ganges where the women were lamenting a lot and were blaming Yudhishthira for all the misery caused. Yudhishthira understood their pain and tried his best to console them.
Yudhishthira along with his brothers and Krishna went to meet Dhritarashtra and they met him with utmost respect in spite of all what had happened. Dhritarashtra, however was still unhappy with them and he wanted to take revenge on Bhima for killing his son Duryodhana. However, Krishna read his mind and he replaced Bhima with a fake Bhima made of iron. Dhritarashtra felt the hard idol and thought that it was Bhima and he pressed it very hard with the intention of hurting him. He pressed it so hard that the idol broke into pieces and fell on the ground. Sanjaya told him that he should have performed the wicked act, as the war was over. Dhritarashtra realized his mistake and sank into deep grievance and sorrow. After this incident Dhritarashtra gave up all the anger in his mind against the Pandava brothers.
Thereafter, the Pandavas and Krishna went to meet Gandhari, the wife of Dhritarashtra and mother of the 100 Kaurava brothers who were all dead by the end of the war. Gandhari’s heart was filled with hatred for the Pandava brothers. Her anger primarily rooted from the fact
that Bhima was disloyal to kill Duryodhana when he attacked him under the navel. When she saw the brothers, she decided to curse. However, Vyasa came and consoled her to prevent her from cursing the virtuous brothers who were against the war in the first place. Then Bhima told her about the way in which Duryodhana had misbehaved with Draupadi in the court. Gandhari accepted her son’s mistake. However, her anger was refusing to come down. The brothers were highly scared seeing the rage of Gandhari. Yudhishthira’s nails turned black with fear. Arjuna hid behind Krishna seeing the condition of Yudhishthira. Gandhari saw the black nails of Yudhishthira, through the bandage of her eyes, who fell on her feet. Then her anger subsided and she forgave the Pandava brothers. She even helped the Pandava brothers to pacify Draupadi who was also lamenting a lot.
Towards the end of this Parva, Krishna even told Gandhari that it was her mistake that she supported the wicked behavior of Duryodhana. If she would have corrected him at the right moment, the Kauravas wouldn’t have been destroyed. Then, Kunti revealed the birth secret about Karna. After hearing the truth, Yudhishthira lamented a lot that he and Arjuna were responsible for killing his elder brother. He then gave a curse to women that would not ever be able to keep a secret.
18 Parvas of Mahabharata
1. Adi Parva (the Beginning)
2. Sabha Parva (the Assembly Hall)
3. Vana Parva also Aranyaka-parva, Aranya-parva (the Forest)
4. Virata Parva (Virata)
5. Udyoga Parva (the Effort)
6. Bhishma Parva (Bhishma)
7. Drona Parva (Drona)
8. Karna Parva (Karna)
9. Shalya Parva (Shalya)
10. Sauptika Parva (the Sleeping Warriors)
11. Stri Parva (the Women)
12. Shanti Parva (Peace)
13. Anushasana Parva (the Instructions)
14. Ashvamedhika Parva (the Horse Sacrifice)
15. Ashramavasika Parva (the Hermitage)
16. Mausala Parva (the Clubs)
17. Mahaprasthanika Parva (the Great Journey)
18. Svargarohana Parva (the Ascent to Heaven)
