Number of verses in the Mahabharata according to itself

In this article, we are going to compare the expected number and the actual number of verses in various editions of Mahabharata.

• Gita Press (Geeta Press), Gorakhpur Hindi translation
• Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) Critical Edition, Pune
• Kumbhakonam Edition by Krishnacharya and Vyasacharya, Nirnaya Sagar Press
• Southern recension by P.P.S. Sastri, published by Vavilla Press, Madras
• Dvaita recension published by Palimaru Matha, Tattwa Samshodhana Samsat, Udupi

Expected Number of Verses

The second chapter of the Mahabharata Book 1 (Adiparva, adhyaya 2) is called parva-sangraha-parva, which proclaims the number of chapters (adhyāyas) and verses (ṡlokas) each of the maha-parvas is supposed to contain.

This is not the number of verses actually present in the printed editions. Instead, this is the expected number of verses as claimed within the corresponding text of Mahabharata itself! For example, see here

Actual Number of Verses

Gita Press lists parva-wise verse count in the last page of last volume (Vol 6) taking the equivalent of Anuṣṭup meter (32 syllables = 1 ṡloka). That is, the prose passages and other metres are counted in multiples of 32 syllables as one verse. Hence the use of fractions. But these counts sometimes don’t match the end-of-parva numbers.

BORI verse count is calculated from John Smith’s machine-readable text files and snippet of python:

import sys

numbers = set()
with open(sys.argv[1]) as f:
    for line in f:
        if lеn(line[0:8]) == 8:
            numbers.add(line[0:8])

print(lеn(numbers))

Thus the number of Shlokas in the BORI Critical Edition totals to 73784 or 73787 according to Bibek Debroy’s Mahabharata books or 73640 as per Vishwa Adluri (citing Brockington). If we include the 6073 Shlokas contained in Harivamsha, it amounts to 79857 or 79860 or 79713. However, my own calculation is shown in the table above. All of these numbers fall short of the tally given in the second chapter of Critical Edition itself!

The Mahabharata published by Gita Press (Gorakhpur) is largely based on Nilakantha’s edition but also includes prominent verses from the Southern Recension. There are about 86600½ North Indian and 6584¼ South Indian verses, totaling to ~93185.

Historical Computations

According to Ānandapurṇa Vidyāsāgara, who authored the Ratnāvalī commentary before 1400 CE, the Mahabharata has 1,02,555 verses.

Ṡrī Vādirāja Tīrtha, foremost of the Dvaita Vedanta school, mentions in his Lakṣālaṅkāra:

भारतश्लोकाः पर्वसङ्ग्रहोक्तप्रकारेण गणनया लक्षादुपरि त्रिसहस्रोत्तरशतं चतुस्त्रिंशच्च (१०३१३४) । हरिवंशश्लोकानां सङ्ख्या चतुर्विंशतिसाहस्री उपाख्यानश्लोकैर्विना । उपाख्यानश्लोकसहस्रेण पञ्चविंशतिसाहस्रीति विवेकः

which means, “According to the Parvasaṅgraha, there are 1,03,134 verses in the Bhārata. Harivamṡa has 24,000 verses excluding the upākhyānas. Including the 1000 verses of upākhyānas, it totals to 25,000”

Nīlakaṇṭha’s commentary includes about 18,000 verses of Harivamsha, so roughly 86000 + 18000 = 104000 stanzas in his work.

P.P.S Sastri’s Madras (southern) recension includes about 20,000 verses of Harivamṡa, totalling to about 1,12,000 stanzas.

Citations

The exact verses proclaiming these numbers are given below:

Dvaita

Adi:

ityētadādiparvōktaṃ prathamaṃ bahuvistaram .
adhyāyānāṃ ṡatē dvē tu saṅkhyātē paramarṣiṇā ..100..
aṣṭādaṡaiva cādhyāyā vyāsēnōttamatējasā .
navaṡlōkasahasrāṇi ṡatānyaṣṭau tathaiva ca1 ..101..
ṡlōkāṡca caturāṡītirdṛṣṭō granthō mahātmanā .
dvitīyaṃ tu sabhāparva samākhyātaṃ mahātmanā ..102..

Sabha:

ētatsarvaṃ sabhāparva vyākhyātaṃ paramarṣiṇā .
adhyāyāḥ saptatirjn̄ēyā dvau cātra parisaṅkhyayā ..109..
catuḥṡlōkasahasrāṇi pan̄ca ṡlōkaṡatāni ca .
ṡlōkāṡcaikādaṡa jn̄ēyāḥ parvaṇyasminprakīrtitāḥ ..110..

Aranyaka:

jagmurlabdhavarā yatra pāṇḍavāḥ paṡcimāṃ diṡam .
ētadāraṇyakaṃ parva tṛtīyaṃ parikīrtitam ..139..
atrādhyāyaṡatē dvē tu saṅkhyātē paramarṣiṇā .
ēkōnasaptatiṡcaiva tathādhyāyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ ..140..
ēkādaṡasahasrāṇi ṡlōkānāṃ ṣaṭṡatāni ca .
catuḥṣaṣṭistathā ṡlōkāḥ parvaṇyasmin prakīrtitāḥ ..141..

Virata:

atra cōpari saṅkhyānaṃ adhyāyānāṃ mahātmanā .
saptaṣaṣṭirathō pūrṇā ṡlōkāgramapi mē ṡṛṇu ..147..
trīṇi ṡlōkasahasrāṇi pan̄caṡlōkaṡatāni ca .
parvaṇyasmin samākhyātaṃ saṅkhyayā paramarṣiṇā ..148..

Udyoga:

udyōgaparva nirdiṣṭaṃ sandhivigrahasan̄jn̄itam .
adhyāyāḥ saṅkhyayā tatra ṣaḍaṡītiṡataṃ smṛtam ..166..
ṡlōkāḥ saptasahasrāṇi navaṡlōkaṡatāni ca * .
ṡlōkāṡca navatiḥ prōktāstathaivāṣṭau mahātmanā ..167..

Bhishma:

adhyāyānāṃ ṡataṃ prōktam aṣṭādaṡa tathāparē * .
pan̄ca ṡlōkasahasrāṇi saṅkhyayāṣṭau ṡatāni ca ..173..
ṡlōkāṡca caturāṡītirasmin parvaṇi kīrtitāḥ .
vyāsēna vēdaviduṣā saṅkhyayā bhīṣmaparvaṇi ..174..

Drona:

saptamaṃ bhārataṃ parva mahadētadudāhṛtam .
adhyāyānāṃ ṡataṃ prōktamadhyāyāḥ saptatiḥ smṛtāḥ * ..183..
aṣṭau ṡlōkasahasrāṇi tathā nava ṡatāni ca .
ṡlōkā nava tathaivātra saṅkhyātāstattvadarṡinā ..184..

Karna:

aṣṭamaṃ parva nirdiṣṭamētadbhāratacintakaiḥ .
ēkōnasaptatiḥ prōktā adhyāyāḥ karṇaparvaṇi ..189..
catvāryēva sahasrāṇi nava ṡlōkaṡatāni ca .
catuṣṣaṣṭistathā ṡlōkāḥ parvaṇyasmin prakīrtitāḥ ..190..

Shalya:

navamaṃ parva nirdiṣṭaṃ ētadadbhutamarthavat .
ēkōnaṣaṣṭiradhyāyāstatra saṅkhyāviṡāradaiḥ ..195..
saṅkhyātā bahuvṛttāntāḥ ṡlōkāgraṃ yatra ṡasyatē .
trīṇi ṡlōkasahasrāṇi dvē ṡatē viṃṡatistathā ..196..

Sauptika:

aṣṭādaṡāsminnadhyāyāḥ parvaṇyuktā mahātmanā .
ṡlōkāgraṃ cātra kathitaṃ ṡatānyaṣṭau tathaiva ca ..209..
ṡlōkāṡca saptatiḥ prōktā yathāvadanusaṅkhyayā .
sauptikaiṣīkasambandhē parvaṇyuttamatējasī ..210..

Stri:

saptaviṃṡatiradhyāyāḥ parvaṇyasminnudāhṛtāḥ .
ṡlōkāḥ saptaṡataṃ cāpi pan̄casaptatirucyatē * ..215..
saṅkhyayā bhāratākhyānaṃ kṛtaṃ cātra mahātmanā .
praṇītaṃ sajjanamanōvaiklavyāṡrupravartanam ..216..

Shanti:

dvādaṡaṃ parva nirdiṣṭamētat prājn̄ajanapriyam .
parvaṇyatra parijn̄ēyamadhyāyānāṃ ṡatatrayam ..221..
triṃṡaccaiva tathādhyāyā nava caiva tapōdhanāḥ .
ṡlōkānāṃ ca sahasrāṇi kīrtitāni caturdaṡa ..222..

Anushasana:

ētat trayōdaṡaṃ parva dharmaniṡcayakāraṇam .
adhyāyānāṃ ṡataṃ tvatra ṣaṭpan̄cāṡacchatōttaram * ..228..
ṡlōkānāṃ ca * sahasrāṇi dvādaṡaivēti kīrtyatē .
atō’ṡvamēdhikaṃ nāma parva prōktaṃ caturdaṡam ..229..

Asvamedhika:

ityāṡvamēdhikaṃ parva prōktamētanmahādbhutam .
atrādhyāyaṡataṃ triṃṡat trayō’dhyāyāṡca ṡabditāḥ * ..235..
catvāryēva sahasrāṇi * tāvantyēva ṡatāni ca .
viṃṡatiṡca tathā ṡlōkāḥ saṅkhyātāstattvadarṡinā ..236..

Asramavasika:

dvicatvāriṃṡadadhyāyāḥ parvaitadabhisaṅkhyayā .
sahasramēkaṃ ṡlōkānāṃ navaṡlōkaṡatāni ca * ..244..
ṣaḍēva ca tathā ṡlōkāḥ saṅkhyātāstattvadarṡinā .
ataḥ paraṃ nibōdhēdaṃ mausalaṃ bhṛṡadāruṇam ..245..

Mausala:

itīdaṃ mausalaṃ parva ṣōḍaṡaṃ parikīrtitam .
aṣṭādhyāyāḥ prasaṅkhyātāḥ ṡlōkāgraṃ ca ṡatatrayam ..254..

Mahaprasthanika:

draupadyā sahitā dēvyā siddhiṃ paramikāṃ gatāḥ .
adhyāyāṡca trayaḥ prōktāḥ ṡlōkānāṃ ca tathā ṡatam * ..257..
viṃṡatiṡca tathā ṡlōkāḥ saṅkhyātāstattvadarṡinā .
svargaparva tataḥ prōktaṃ divyaṃ yattadamānuṣam ..258..

Svargarohana:

adhyāyāḥ pan̄ca saṅkhyātāḥ parvaitadabhisaṅkhyayā .
ṡlōkānāṃ dvē ṡatē caiva prasaṅkhyātē tapōdhanāḥ ..259..

Kumbakonam

Adi:

ityētadādiparvōktaṃ prathamaṃ bahu vistaram.. 1–2–130(431)
adhyāyānāṃ ṡatē dvē tu saṃkhyātē paramarṣiṇā.
saptaviṃṡatiradhyāyā vyāsēnōttamatējasā.. 1–2–131(432)
aṣṭau ṡlōkasahasrāṇi aṣṭau ṡlōkaṡatāni ca.
ṡlōkāṡca caturāṡītirmuninōktā mahātmanā.. 1–2–132(433)

Sabha:

ētatsarvaṃ sabhāparva samākhyātaṃ mahātmanā.. 1–2–141(442)
adhyāyāḥ saptatirjn̄ēyāstathā cāṣṭau prasaṃkhyayā.
ṡlōkānāṃ dvē sahasrē tu pan̄ca ṡlōkaṡatāni ca.. 1–2–142(443)
ṡlōkāṡcaikādaṡa jn̄ēyāḥ parvaṇyasmindvijōttamāḥ.
ataḥ paraṃ tṛtīyaṃ tu jn̄ēyamāraṇyakaṃ mahat.. 1–2–143(444)

Aranyaka:

jagmurlabdhavarā yatra pāṇḍavāḥ paṡcimāṃ diṡam.
ētadāraṇyakaṃ parva tṛtīyaṃ parikīrtitam.. 1–2–204(505)
atrādhyāyaṡatē dvē tu saṃkhyayā parikīrtitē.
ēkōnasaptatiṡcaiva tathā’dhyāyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ.. 1–2–205(506)
ēkādaṡa sahasrāṇi ṡlōkānāṃ ṣaṭ ṡatāni ca.
catuḥṣaṣṭistathā ṡlōkāḥ parvaṇyasminprakīrtitāḥ.. 1–2–206(507)

Virata:

caturthamētadvipulaṃ vairāṭaṃ parva varṇitam.
atrāpi parisaṃkhyātā adhyāyāḥ paramarṣiṇā.. 1–2–216(517)
saptaṣaṣṭirathō pūrṇāḥ ṡlōkānāmapi mē ṡṛṇu.
ṡlōkānāṃ dvē sahasrē tu ṡlōkāḥ pan̄cāṡadēva tu.. 1–2–217(518)

Udyoga:

udyōgaparva nirdiṣṭaṃ sandhivigrahamiṡritam.
adhyāyānāṃ ṡataṃ prōktaṃ ṣaḍaṡītirmaharṣiṇā.. 1–2–243(544)
ṡlōkānāṃ ṣaṭ sahasrāṇi tāvantyēva ṡatāni ca.
ṡlōkāṡca navatiḥ prōktāstathaivāṣṭau mahātmanā.. 1–2–244(545)

Bhishma:

ṡaratalpagataṡcaiva bhīṣmō yatra babhūva ha.
ṣaṣṭhamētatsamākhyātaṃ bhāratē parva vistṛtam.. 1–2–252(553)
adhyāyānāṃ ṡataṃ prōktaṃ tathā saptadaṡāparē.
pan̄ca ṡlōkasahasrāṇi saṃkhyayāṣṭau ṡatāni ca.. 1–2–253(554)
ṡlōkāṡca caturāṡītirasminparvaṇi kīrtitāḥ.
vyāsēna vēdaviduṣā saṃkhyātā bhīṣmaparvaṇi.. 1–2–254(555)

Drona:

drōṇaparvaṇi yē ṡaūrā nirdiṣṭāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ.
atrādhyāyaṡataṃ prōktaṃ tathādhyāyāṡca saptatiḥ.. 1–2–269(570)
aṣṭau ṡlōkasahasrāṇi tathā nava ṡatāni ca.
ṡlōkā nava tathaivātra saṃkhyātāstattvadarṡinā.. 1–2–270(571)

Karna:

ēkōnasaptatiḥ prōktā adhyāyāḥ karṇaparvaṇi.
catvāryēva sahasrāṇi nava ṡlōkaṡatāni ca.. 1–2–279(580)
catuḥṣaṣṭistathā ṡlōkāḥ parvaṇyasminprakīrtitāḥ.
ataḥ paraṃ vicitrārthaṃ ṡalyaparva prakīrtitam.. 1–2–280(581)

Shalya:

ēkōnaṣaṣṭiradhyāyāḥ parvaṇyatra prakīrtitāḥ.
saṃkhyātā bahuvṛttāntāḥ ṡlōkasaṃkhyā’tra kathyatē.. 1–2–290(591)
trīṇi ṡlōkasahasrāṇi dvē ṡatē viṃṡatistathā.
muninā saṃpraṇītāni kauravāṇāṃ yaṡōbhṛtā.. 1–2–291(592)

Sauptika:

ētadvai daṡamaṃ parva sauptikaṃ samudāhṛtam.
aṣṭādaṡāsminnadyāyāḥ parvamyuktā mahātmanā.. 1–2–311(612)
ṡlōkānāṃ kathitānyatra ṡatānyaṣṭau prasaṃkhyayā.
ṡlōkāṡca saptatiḥ prōktā muninā brahmavādinā.. 1–2–312(613)
sauptikaiṣīkasaṃbandhē parvaṇyuttamatējasī.
ata ūrdhvamidaṃ prāhuḥ strīparva karuṇōdayam.. 1–2–313(614)

Stri:

praṇītaṃ sajjanamanōvaiklavyāṡrupravartakam.
saptaviṃṡatiradhyāyāḥ parvaṇyasminprakīrtitāḥ.. 1–2–324(625)
ṡlōkasaptaṡatī cāpi pan̄casaptatisaṃyutā.
saṃkhyayā bhāratākhyānamuktaṃ vyāsēna dhīmatā.. 1–2–325(626)

Shanti:

dvādaṡaṃ parva nirdiṣṭamētatprājn̄ajanapriyam.
atra parvaṇi vijn̄ēyamadhyāyānāṃ ṡatatrayam.. 1–2–330(631)
viṃṡaccaiva tathādhyāyā nava caiva tapōdhanāḥ.
caturdaṡasahasrāṇi tathā saptaṡatāni ca.. 1–2–331(632)
saptaṡlōkāstathaivātra pan̄caviṃṡatisaṃkhyayā.
ata ūrdhvaṃ ca vijn̄ēyamanuṡāsanamuttamam.. 1–2–332(633)

Anushasana:

ētattrayōdaṡaṃ parva dharmaniṡcayakārakam.
adhyāyānāṃ ṡataṃ tvatra ṣaṭcatvāriṃṡadēva tu.. 1–2–338(639)
ṡlōkānāṃ tu sahasrāṇi prōktānyaṣṭau prasaṃkhyayā.
tatō’ṡvamēdhikaṃ nāma parva prōktaṃ caturdaṡam.. 1–2–339(640)

Asvamedhika:

ityāṡvamēdhikaṃ parva prōktamētanmahādbhutam.
adhyāyānāṃ ṡataṃ caiva trayō’dhyāyāṡca kīrtitāḥ.. 1–2–344(645)
trīṇi ṡlōkasahasrāṇi tāvantyēva ṡatāni ca.
viṃṡatiṡca tathā ṡlōkāḥ saṃkhyātāstattvadarṡinā.. 1–2–345(646)

Asramavasika:

dvicatvāriṃṡadadhyāyāḥ parvaitadabhisaṅkhyayā.
sahasramēkaṃ ṡlōkānāṃ pan̄caṡlōkaṡatāni ca.. 1–2–353(654)
ṣaḍēva ca tathā ṡlōkāḥ saṃkhyātāstattvadarṡinā.
ataḥ paraṃ nibōdhēdaṃ mausalaṃ parva dāruṇam.. 1–2–354(655)

Mausala:

ityētanmausalaṃ parva ṣōḍaṡaṃ parikīrtitam.
adhyāyāṣṭau samākhyātāḥ ṡlōkānāṃ ca ṡatatrayam.. 1–2–364(665)
ṡlōkānāṃ viṃṡatiṡcava saṃkhyātā tattvadarṡinā.

Mahaprasthanika:

yatrādhyāyāstrayaḥ prōktāḥ ṡlōkānāṃ ca ṡatatrayam.
viṃṡatiṡca tathā ṡlōkāḥ saṃkhyātāstattvadarṡinā.. 1–2–370(671)

Svargarohana:

adhyāyāḥ pan̄ca saṃkhyātāḥ parvamyasminmahātmanā.
ṡlōkānāṃ dvē ṡatē caiva prasaṃkhyātē tapōdhāḥ.. 1–2–378(679)
nava ṡlōkāstathaivānyē saṅkhyātāḥ paramarṣiṇā.
aṣṭādaṡaivamētāni parvāṇyētānyaṡēṣataḥ.. 1–2–379

Gita Press

Gita Press lists the exact same verses as above for Kumbakonam, hence they’re not repeated here. The only difference is in the number of adhyayas for Shanti Parva – Gita Press says 339, Kumbakonam says 329.

TTD version of MBh follows the exact same verses as Gita Press (including 339).

Adi 1.2.130
Sabha 1.2.142
Aranyaka 1.2.203
Virata 1.2.215
Udyoga 1.2.242
Bhishma 1.2.252
Drona 1.2.267
Karna 1.2.278
Shalya 1.2.289
Sauptika 1.2.311
Stri 1.2.323
Shanti 1.2.330
Anushasana 1.2.337
Ashvamedhika 1.2.343
Ashramavasika 1.2.352
Maushala 1.2.363
Mahaprasthanika 1.2.369
Svargarohana 1.2.377

The differing verse for Shanti Parva is thus:

triṃṡaccaiva tathādhyāyā nava caiva tapōdhanāḥ.
caturdaṡasahasrāṇi tathā saptaṡatāni ca.. 1–2–330
saptaṡlōkāstathaivātra pan̄caviṃṡatisaṃkhyayā.
ata ūrdhvaṃ ca vijn̄ēyam anuṡāsanamuttamam.. 1–2–331

References:

Sukthankar’s Table I (p 424) pdf

Kumbakonam Edition Shloka Sankhya

PPS Sastri’s Adi Parva - 1, Table on page xviii

PPS Sastri’s Karna Parva, Table III

Diwakar Mani, “Online Indexing Of Ādiparva In Mahābhārata”