Shanti Parva ~ Book of Peace

Shanti Parva

Book of Peace & Wisdom Literature

Shanti Parva (The Book of Peace) is the 12^th and longest Parva (book) of Great Epic Mahabharata (comprising 18 Parvas, Books). It is the set of instructions given to King Yudhisthira (son of Pandav) by Great Bhishma (eldest among Kuru Parivar) on various treatises such as: duties of a king and his rule, governance system, dharma, rights, justice, prosperity and welfare of his people, moksha, etc. This book comprises various stories narrated by Bhishma to motivate the King Yudhisthira to understand the importance of kingdom, to be administered by Dharma. 

Advent of Shanti Parva:

At the End of Mahabharata War, Yudhisthira was very dejected at the death of his elders, brothers, relatives and loved ones. He was lamented so much that he has decided to renounce everything and move to forest and live there. Then various Great Sages Rishi Vyasa, Narad Muni, Devala, Devasthana, and Lord Hari Himself counsel him to give up such dejection and rule the kingdom of Hastinapur with the Code Of Dharma, considering that his duty. Even Arjuna, Bhima (younger brothers of Yudhisthira), and Drupadi also guides the same to Yudhisthira. But his sorrows did not vanish completely from his mind and heart.

After the crown ceremony of Yudhisthira as King, on very next morning he went to Shri Krishna and surprised to see Him in deep thought. On enquiring, Shri Krishna replied,

'Yudhisthira! I was thinking of Bhishma, the dying ember, lying on a bed of arrows! Ganga's son, tutored in the vedas as a student of rishi Vashista, well versed in warfare as a favorite student of Parusharama!  A great man who knows the past, present and the future. When he goes, the world will go dark like a night without the moon. Yudhisthira, hence go and meet him when he is still alive and ask him whatever you want to know about laws relating to kings'.   

Shri Krishna took him and rest of the Pandavas and Sages to the place (banks of Ogavathi River) where Bhishma was lying on the Bed of Arrows. When Bhishma came to know that Yudhisthira’s heart is full of sorrows on the demise of elders of Kuru Parivar and he cursing himself for all that, then Bhishma pacify him with following words.

While it is dharma for brahmins to study, do penance and to give. In the same way, it is dharma for a khsatriya to engage in war. If invited, a khsatriya cannot refuse to fight. If someone is going in the wrong path, whether it is a father, a brother or a grandfather, he should be punished. It is khsatriya dharma to kill anyone who transgresses dharma out of greed'. (Bhishma)

The instruction goes on for various days, and Yudhisthira asked as many questions as he can, and he got all answered from Bhishma. It is by Shri Krishna’s mercy that pain of painful wound caused by arrows which pierced the body of Bhishma was vanished so that he can give the instructions properly.

Shanti Parva Statistically:

Statistically it consists of 365 chapters and 13,716 numbers of Shlokas, which is further divided into three sub-parvas:

RajaDharma Parva (Chapters: 1 to 130 & 4716 Shlokas)

Describes the duties of king and his governance

ApadDharma Parva (Chapters 131 to 173 & 1649 Shlokas)

Describes the rules of conduct when one faces adversity

MokshaDharma Parva (Chapters 174 to 365 & 7351 Shlokas)

Describes behavior and rules to achieve moksha (emancipation, release, freedom)

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Shanti Parva Some Salient Features:

Few of the Bhishma’s Advices:

• There is nothing superior to Truth; everything is supported by Truth & depends on Truth
• Nothing in this world greater than Intellect
• To get freedom from anger, one should learn how to forgive.
• To be free from unlawful desires one should not make plans.
• By spiritual culture one is able to conquer sleep.
• By tolerance only can one conquer desires and greed.
• Disturbances from various diseases can be avoided by regulated diets.
• By self-control one can be free from false hopes.
• Money can be saved by avoiding undesirable association.
• By practice of yoga one can control hunger.
• Worldliness can be avoided by culturing the knowledge of impermanence.
• Dizziness can be conquered by rising up.
• False arguments can be conquered by factual ascertainment.
• Talkativeness can be avoided by gravity and silence.
• By prowess one can avoid fearfulness.
• Perfect knowledge can be obtained by self-cultivation.
• To serve the Refugee is the utmost principle

Caste System:

There is no such difference among castes. It arises because of differentiation of work. There is no superior caste, claims Shanti Parva. Shanti Parva claim neither birth, nor initiation, nor descent, nor bookish knowledge determines a person's merit; only their actual conduct, expressed qualities and virtues determine one's merit. 

King ~ Basic Requirements:

One cannot go successfully in the world with the help of a one sided morality;
Duty must originate from understanding, the practices of the good should always be determined. A king by the help of his understanding and guided by knowledge gathered from various sources, should so arrange that moral laws may be observed. (Bhishma)

King ~ Truth Connection:

There is nothing which leads so much to the success of kings as Truth,
the king who is devoted to Truth enjoys happiness both here and hereafter.
Even to the Rishis, O king, Truth is the greatest wealth,
Likewise for kings, there is nothing that so much creates confidence in them as Truth (Bhishma)

Woman:

Women are power of inspiration for men and they are more powerful than men, in various aspects. But such power of women is very much controlled by the Shyness. Once the control over shyness is loosened, women can create havoc in Society.

Four Principles:

Lord Brahma wrote Trivarga, the intellectual Science of Moral, containing details account on four principles for human to follow for their welfare in the Society: Dharma, Artha, Kaam & Moksha.

Friendship and Happiness ~ Sorrows:

Nobody is nobody's friend,
nobody is nobody's well-wisher,
persons become friends or enemies only from motives of interest. (Bhishma)

Sorrow comes after happiness, and happiness after sorrow;
One does not always suffer sorrow, nor always enjoy happiness (Bhishma)

Important Teaching:

The important instructions were on the process of pleasing the Lord. We are in this material world, because we have forgotten that we are eternal servants of the Lord. One can worship the deity at home, serves the devoted devotee, hears the Sacred Scriptures or even keep Chanting the Name of Lord, without disturbing one’s prescribed routine work.

One should not distract one’s self from the ultimate goal of pleasing Lord Shri Krishna, One who walk along the track recommended by the understanding, earns happiness both here and hereafter.  (Bhishma)

Shanti Parva Fame by Shri Krishna:

Lord Krishna said,

"Bhishma, it is a fact that, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I am the origin of all branches of knowledge and Personification of Dharma but it is most powerful and auspicious if the Dharma is taught by the One (Bhishma) who has practiced than by the One (Shri Krishna) who set. Still, just to enhance your good reputation, I want you to speak to Yudhisthira. I know that as long as the Earth continues to exist, these conversations will perpetuate your fame."

Note: The next Parva i.e 13^th of Mahabharta is Anushasana Parva, which is the continuation of theme of Shanti Parva. Vishnu Sahasranama, Thousands Names of Lord Vishnu taught by Bhishma comes under this Parva.

References:

Full Translation of Shanti Parva and Anushasana Parva available on Internet,

Various Highly Motivated Stories Available on Internet