The second volume of Mahābhārata is probably the most important of all its volumes. It covers all the actions and inaction that lead eventually to get great war at Kurukshetra. The volume is much shorter than the first(almost half in length) and covers the story from the building of great “Maya Sabha” till the banishment of the Pandavas to exile.

Krishna becomes a major part of the story in this volume. The prince of Dwarka exhibits his amazing understanding of politics and sense of manipulation to great effect in this volume. It is amazing how often the term “fate” appears in the ancient text. The idea that all these great people knew their destiny and walked the path of Dharma or Adharma depending on the role they played is simply beautiful.

There is a small section of the text which describes the greatness of Duryodhana, about how good a king he was and about how faithful he was to the people who loved him. Here is a man who made no mistake other than let his envy for his cousins conquer him. All this before describing how dastardly he treated Draupadi, the Queen of the Pandavas, after the game of dice.

The righteous symbol of Yudhishtira is also shaken when he lets his addiction to gambling take control of his senses. Yet at the same time his respect for his elders and determination to obey their every command speaks volumes about the man.

Here are two men who were Kings. Rulers that were respected for their justice and valor. Yet they fell to petty crimes that ended up destroying everyone they loved.

In the middle of all the men, Draupadi, the daughter of fire. A woman whose scorn would burn the kingdom of Hastinapura. A woman punished for the mistakes of her husband and yet she stands her ground and poses the question that sends quakes to the sabha of wise men. A woman who was insulted and molested in the presence of men who had sworn to protect her integrity with their life. And yet it was her fate… just like it was her fate to watch everyone that insulted her die a painful death knowing full well that they were paying for their sins.

The climax of Sabha Parva happens in the royal hall, where a game of dice decides the fates of great men. Where insults and envy destroy the great deeds that took years to earn. Where vows made by the weak and helpless would vanquish the strong in due time…

My favourite story of Sabha Parva has to be the story of Jarasandha and the question posed by Draupadi. The former for it was one of the first visually graphic story of a king born in two halfs. A king who dies when his body is split into two halfs. The latter for it is the first situation where even the wise could not find the answer to the question posed. It was one of Duryodhana’s brothers Vikrama who in the end answers the question.

The next volume is Vana Parva, which is about the 12 years of exile of the Pandavas.