Outline of Mahaabhaarat

1. Aadi Parv - (227 Chapters and 8,884 Shlok) This Parv contains Paushya, Paulom, Aasteek, Aadi-vanshaavataar, Sambhaav, Laakshaa Grih, Hidimb Vadh, Bakaasur Vadh, Chitrarath, Draupadee Swayamvar, Draupadee Vivaah, Vidur Gaman, Arjun's Exile, Abduction of Subhadraa, Khaandav Van Dahan, Maya Daanav.

Paushya Parv treats the greatness of Uttank and the Paulom (son of Bhrigu). 

The Aasteek Parv describes the birth of Garud and snakes, Saagar Manthan, birth of Uchchshraivaa horse, and dynasty of Bharat as described in the Sarp Yagya of Janamejaya.

In Sambhaav Parv - This Parv relates the birth of various kings, Vyaas, the partial incarnations of deities, Daanav, Yaksh, serpents, birds, life of king Bharat, the son born to Shakuntalaa in the Aashram of sage Kanv, greatness of Gangaa and the birth of Vsus in the house of Shaantanu, story of Bheeshm, protection of Chitraangad and death of Chitraangad, coronation of Vichitraveerya, birth of Dharm among men by the curse of Animaandavya Rishi, birth of Dhritraashtra and Paandu from Vyaas, plotting of Duryodhan to send Paandav to Baaranaavat, evil counsels to Duryodhan, good counsels to Yudhishthir by Vidur in Mlechchh language, burning of Purochan, meeting of Paandav with Hidimb, Hidimbaa's marriage to Bheem and the birth of Ghatotkach, meeting of Paandav with Vyaas, Bakaasur Vadh.

Birth of Draupadee and Dhrishtdyumn, Paandav go to Paanchaal to win Draupadee, victory of Arjun over a Gandharv Angaarparn, hearing the story of Tapatee, Vashishth and Aurv from Gandharv, journey to Paanchaal, story of five Indra regarding Draupadee marrying to five husbands, marrying Draupadee, going to Vidur as envoy od Kaurav to Paandav, Paandav go to Khaandav Prasth, history of Sund and Upasund, exile to Arjun, Arjun meets Uloopee, birth of Vabhruvaahan, meeting Krishn in Prabhaas Kshetra, carrying away of Subhadraa, conception of Abhimanyu, Draupadee's children are born, Krishn and Arjun go to Yamunaa and receive Gaandeev and Chakra, Khaandav Van Dahan, rescuing Maya Daanav, escape of Takshak Naag, Mandpaal Rishi produces a son from a bird Saarngee.

2. Sabhaa Parv - (78 sections, 2,507 Shlok) The second Parv is also very extensive. Establishment of grand hall for Paandav, description of Lokpaal by Naarad, preparation of Raajsooya Yagya, Jaraasandh Vadh, Shishupaal Vadh, Bheemsen laughs on Duruodhan in assembly hall, Duryodhan's sorrow and invitation to Paandav for dice game, defeat of Yudhishthir, Dhritraashtra gives back all to Draupadee, another game of dice, Paandav are defeated and go to 12 years of exile and one year of Agyaatvaas.

3. Aaranyak Parv - (269 sections, 11, 664 Shlok) The third Parv is related to forest. Yudhishthir obtains a pot from Soorya to support Braahman dependent to him, Dhritraashtra expels Vidur, Vidur comes to Yudhishthir, Duryodhan plans to destroy Paandav again, Vyaas abuses Kaurav for it, history of Surabhi, arrival of Maitreya and guides to Dhritraashtra and curses to Duryodhan, Paanchaal and Krishn come to Paandav, Krishn cheers Draupadee, fall of Sauve, Krishn takes Subhadraa and Abhimanyu to Dwaarakaa, Dhrishtdyumn takes Draupadee's sons to Paanchaal, Vyaas comes to Paandav and endows the power of Pratismriti to Yudhishthir, Arjun wanders in search of weapons - Paashupat Astra, Astra from Indra, sage Brihadaashwa comes to Paandav, tells the story of Nal and teaches dice to Yudhishthir, Lomash Muni brings the news of Arjun, Paandav go to pilgrimage, story of Agastya eating Vaataapi Raakshas, connection with Lopaamudraa, story of Rishyashring, history of Raam (Parashuraam), destruction of Kaartveerya, Paandav meet Vrishni in Prabhaas Kshetra, story of Sukanyaa and Chyavan (Bhrigu's son), story of Maandhaataa, history of prince Jantu (son of Somak), story of hawk and pigeon (Shibi), story of Ashtaavakra, Ashtaavakra defeats Vandee (son of Varun) at king Janak's sacrifice, story of Yavakrit, Paandav go to Gandhmaadan Parvat, Bheemsen goes in search of scented flower and meets Raakshas (Jataasur Vadh) and Hanumaan, Paandav meet sage Vrishparvaa, they go to Arishtsen and live there, Arjun kills Nivaatkavach, Paulomaa and Kaalkeya in Hiranyaparv, Bheem meets a python (king Nahush) while coming down from Gandhmaadan, Yudhishthir releases him from that Yoni, Krishn and Maarkandeya come to Paandav, story of Prithu, Saraswatee, Taarkshya, and Matsya, stories of Indradyumn, Dhudhumaar, chaste wife, Angiraa, conversation of Draupadee and Satyabhaamaa, story of Vrihadraunik, story of Durvaasaa, Jayadrath abducts Draupadee, story of Raam and Saavitree, Indra begs Karn's earrings and Kavach, Dharm advices to his son Yudhishthir.

4. Viraat Parv - (67 sections, 2,050 Shlok) This Parv describes the one year of Agyaatvaas. Paandav keep their weapons at Shamee tree, enter Vuraat's court in disguise, Keechak Vadh, Duryodhan sends Trigart to know about Paandav, Arjun defeats Kaurav army single-handed, Viraat gives his daughter to Abhimanyu.

5. Udyog Parv - (186 sections, 6,698 Shlok) Paandav live in Upaplavya, Duryodhan and Arjun both go to Krishn for help, Arjun asks for Krishn and Duryodhan is happy with His army, Duryodhan deceives Shalya and Shalya joins him in the war, Shalya consoles Paandav with the story of Indra's victory over Vritraasur, Paandav send Drupad's Purohit to Kaurav, Dhritraashtra is not able to sleep, Vidur and Sanat-Sujaat console him, Krishn goes to Hastinaapur for peace, story of Damvodava, story of Maatali's search for a husband for his daughter, stories of Gaalav Muni, training the sons of Viudulaa, Krishn shows his Viraat Roop in Kaurav's court, Krishn takes Karn and advices him, but Karn rejects it, preparation of war, Duryodhan sends Ulook as his envoy, the story of Ambaa.

6. Bheeshm Parv - (117 sections, 5,884 Shlok) Sanjaya describes all Lok in the Universe, fight for 10 successive days, in spite of the vow that Krishn will not take up weapon during was Krishn rushes toward Bheeshm carrying His driving whip in His hand, Arjun kills Bheeshm placing Shikhandee in front of himself, Bheeshm lies on the bed of arrows.

7. Drone Parv - (170 sections, 8,909 Shlok) Drone promises to Duryodhan to seize Yudhishthir, sends Sansaptak, Arjun kills Bhagadatt, Abhimanyu Vadh by Kaurav, Jayadrath Vadh by Arjun, remaining Sansaptak are killed, death of Alambooshaa, Shrutaayu, Jalaasandh, Somdatt, Viraat, Ghatotkach, Drupad, Ashwatthaamaa uses Naaraayan Astra excited at his father's killing, Vyaas tells him the glory of Krishn and Arjun.

8. Karn Parv - (69 sections, 4,964 Shlok) Shalya as his charioteer, story of fall of Tripuraasur, story of the swan and crow, Ashwatthaamaa kills Pandyaa, killing of Dandsen, and Dard, Bheem rips open Dushaasan's heart for his blood, Arjun slays Karn.

9. Shalya Parv - (59 sections, 3,220 Shlok) Yudhishthir kills Shalya, Sahadev kills Shakuni, Duryodhan goes to hide in a lake, encounter of Duryodhan and Bheem, coming of Balaraam, account of his pilgrimage, Bheem breaks Duryodhan's thigh, 

10. Sauptikaa Parv - (18 sections, 670 Shlok) Kritvarmaa, Kripaa and Ashwatthaamaa come to Duryodhan, Ashwatthaamaa takes up a vow to kill all Paanchaal, Paandav and all their allies, all go to Paandav's camp, Ashwatthaamaa kills all except the five Paandav and Saatyaki, Vyaas and Krishn's Shaap to Ashwatthaamaa, Arjun takes off his gem.

11. Stree Parv - (27 Chapters, 775 Shlok) Dhritraashtra is very angry with Bheem, breaks his iron statue, he goes to battlefield with Kaurav women, cremation of those bodies, Kuntee acknowledges Karn as her son.

12. Shaanti Parv - (339 sections, 14,732 Shlok) Yudhishthir goes to Bheeshm and obtains knowledge on many topics.

13. Anushaasan Parv - (146 sections, 8,000 Shlok) Bheeshm discourses on Dharm and Arth, rules of charity, ascension of Bheeshm to Heaven.

14. Ashwamedh Parv - (103 sections, 3,320 Shlok  ) Stories of Samvart and Marutt, discovery of golden treasure, birth of Pareekshit, Krishn revives him, Arjun's battle with his son Vabhruvaahan, story of Mongoose.

15. Aashramvaasikaa Parv - (42 sections, 1,506 Shlok) Dhritraashtra, Gaandhaaree, Vidur and Kuntee leave the world and live in forest, Dhritraashtra sees his dead children by the kindness of Vyaas, Vidur dies.

16. Mausal Parv - (8 sections, 320 Shlok) Vrishni race heroes by their fate, by Braahman's Shaap, skew each other with Erak grass, Balraam and Keszhav after causing this destruction go their Dhaam, Arjun goes to Dwaarakaa to bring all women and is robbed on the way

17. Mahaaprasthaanik Parv - (3 sections, 320 Shlok) Paandav along with Draupadee go to Swarg, Yudhishthir leaving all his brothers dropped one by one goes forward without even once looking at them.

18 Swargaarohan Parv - (209 Shlok) Celestial plane comes to take him, Yudhishthir refuses to ascend it without his dog, dog changes to Dharm Raaj, he is showed the Hell, later he goes to Swarg.

In the Appendix is Harivansh (12,000 Shlok) and Bhavishya. Who has read four Ved and Shaastra but doesn't know his history, he knows nothing.