After the great war, King Yudhishthira, restored to his natural calm and wisdom, listened attentively as Bhishma, the venerable son of Bhagirathi, expounded the essence of righteousness. In this sacred discourse, all the procedures of law and practice relating to righteousness and wealth were revealed, along with the outcomes that arise from various acts of giving. The special recipients of gifts, the supreme rules of charity, the proper conduct and discipline, and the highest path of truth were all set forth. The merits of cows and Brahmanas were explained, as well as the secret nature of dharma, its connection to place and time. This section, filled with many tales and excellent teachings, also described Bhishma’s ascent to heaven. Thus was established the thirteenth book, the Shanti Parva, which determines the course of righteousness, comprising one hundred and forty-six chapters and eight thousand verses. Following this, the fourteenth book, the Ashvamedhika Parva, was described. In the Ashvamedhika Parva, the story of Samvarta and Marutta unfolded—a tale of the acquisition of a golden treasury and the birth of Parikshit. The revival of the one who had been burned by the weapon-fire through Krishna’s grace was recounted, as was the release of the horse for the great sacrifice and the Pandava’s journey in pursuit. Battles with steadfast princes were narrated, including encounters between Dhananjaya and the son of Chitrangada, as well as his own son. In the battle with Babruvahana, Arjuna faced grave danger. The narrative also included the tale of Sudarshana, the Vaishnava story, discussions of righteousness, and Nakula’s role in the Ashvamedha sacrifice. This wondrous book contained one hundred and three chapters and three thousand and twenty verses. Then came the fifteenth book, the Ashramavasika Parva. Here, King Dhritarashtra, having renounced the kingdom, departed for the hermitage with Gandhari. Vidura also went, and seeing their departure, the virtuous Pritha followed. In the hermitage, Gandhari, having given up the kingdom of her son and devoted herself to serving her elders, witnessed the souls of her sons, grandsons, and other kings who had fallen in battle. Through the grace of the sage Krishna, she saw these heroic ones returned from another world, a marvelous wonder. Freed from grief, Gandhari and her husband attained the highest perfection, while Vidura, steadfast in righteousness, gained a blessed state. Meanwhile, Sanjaya, wise and accompanied by his ministers, and the self-controlled Gāvalgaṇa, met Nārada where Yudhishthira was present. From Nārada, they heard of the great destruction among the Vṛṣṇis. This section, known as ‘Dwelling in the Hermitage,’ contained forty-two chapters and one thousand five hundred and six verses. Next, the dreadful Mausala Parva was recounted. There, heroic men, struck by weapons in battle and crushed by the rod of Brahma, fell beside the salt sea. Intoxicated by drink and driven by destiny, they struck each other with reeds that turned to thunderbolts. After the destruction, both Rāma and Keśava did not defy the great time that brings all to an end. Arjuna, arriving in Dvāravatī bereft of the Vṛṣṇis, witnessed disaster and was plunged into deep sorrow. He performed the funeral rites for his noble maternal uncle Śauri and saw the massacre of the Yadu heroes in the assembly hall. He arranged the cremation of Vāsudeva, the great-souled Rāma, and the chief men among the Vṛṣṇis. Taking with him the old, the young, and the people of Dvāravatī, Arjuna experienced defeat, losing the power of his Gandiva bow. He saw the loss of favor of all divine weapons, the destruction of the Vṛṣṇi women, and the impermanence of all powers. Disillusioned, and prompted by Vyāsa’s words, Arjuna approached Yudhishthira and approved of renunciation. This Mausala Parva, the sixteenth book, contained eight chapters and three hundred and twenty verses. Afterwards came the seventeenth book, the Mahāprasthānika Parva. Here, the Pandavas, the best among men, together with Queen Draupadī, renounced the kingdom and set out on the great journey. Reaching the ocean at the mouth of the Lauhitya, they saw the fire, and Arjuna, urged by Agni, honored him and gave him the divine bow, Gandiva. Yudhishthira saw his brothers and Draupadī fallen, and, having witnessed and abandoned, departed without looking back. This book contained three chapters and three hundred and twenty verses. Finally, the Svargaparva, the eighteenth book, was told—a divine section beyond human realm. Here, the king of righteousness, Yudhishthira, attained the heavenly chariot and entered heaven. To ascend, the supremely wise one, out of compassion and without the dog, knowing the steadfastness of the great-souled king in righteousness, accomplished his journey to the highest realm.