Ghoshayatra Parva
An episode of the Mahabharata involving a humiliating expedition and rescue.
The Ghosayatra Parva (Sanskrit: घोषयात्रा पर्व, romanized: Ghoṣayātrā Parva, meaning 'Expedition to the cowherd assembly section') is a part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, comprising 519 shlokas. It takes its name from an episode where the Kauravas travel to the Dvaitavana forest, where the Pandavas are living, supposedly to inspect cattle but actually intending to embarrass their cousins. In this story, the Kauravas are taken captive by the gandharvas, and the Pandavas secure their release. Duryodhana, finding the whole affair humiliating, resolves to fast until death but is talked out of it; he instead chooses to return to Hastinapura to perform a sacrifice.
In the synopsis, Duryodhana and the other Kauravas set out on this expedition. The Kaurava forces are attacked by the gandharvas. After an initial success, the gandharva army uses illusions to break the Kaurava formation and rout them. Learning of this, Arjuna and the other Pandavas decide to rescue the Kauravas and fight the gandharvas. After the first clash, Chitrasena, the king of the gandharvas, reveals that he only fought lightly with the Pandavas because he is a friend of Arjuna, and his real aim was to capture Duryodhana. Once Duryodhana is freed, the Kuru host returns to their kingdom.
- Name
- Ghosayatra Parva
- Type
- Section and episode of the Mahabharata
- Length
- 519 shlokas
- Setting
- Dvaitavana forest
- Key figures
- Kauravas, Pandavas, Gandharvas, Chitrasena
- Outcome
- Kauravas captured and released by Pandavas
Lore & Background
The Ghosayatra Parva recounts an expedition undertaken by Duryodhana and the other Kauravas. They went to Dvaitavana, a forest where the Pandavas were residing, ostensibly to inspect cattle but with the hidden intention of humiliating their cousins. During this trip, the Kaurava host was attacked by the Gandharvas. After a brief victory, the army of the Gandharvas used illusions on them, which broke the formation of the Kaurava armies and they were routed.
Reader's Guide
The Ghosayatra Parva is significant as a narrative episode within the Mahabharata that highlights the ongoing conflict between the Kauravas and Pandavas. It illustrates the Kauravas' attempt to assert dominance and humiliate the Pandavas, which backfires when they are captured by the Gandharvas. The Pandavas, particularly Arjuna, choose to rescue their cousins despite the enmity, demonstrating a code of honor. The episode also introduces the character of Chitrasena, king of the Gandharvas, who reveals he is a friend of Arjuna and only mildly fought the Pandavas, having intended to capture Duryodhana. The aftermath sees Duryodhana finding the outcome embarrassing and resolving to fast to death until dissuaded, after which he returns to Hastinapura to perform a sacrifice. This parva contributes to the epic's exploration of pride, duty, and the complexities of familial relationships.
Did You Know?
- The Ghosayatra Parva consists of 519 shlokas.
- The Kauravas undertook the expedition under the pretext of cattle inspection.
- The Gandharvas used illusions to break the Kaurava army's formation.
- Chitrasena, king of the Gandharvas, was a friend of Arjuna.
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