1. Adi Parva (आदि पर्व) (19 sub-parvas, 225-236 chapters depending on the editions) * The first sloka of Mahabharata: नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ Ugrashravas Sauti (उग्रश्रवस् सौती) narrates to assembled rishis at Naimisharanya (नैमिषारण्य) jungle. He narrates the story of how the Mahabharata was written. It describes the significance of Mahabharata, claims comprehensive synthesis of all human knowledge, and why it must be studied. Anukramanika Parva (chapter 1) *Following few chapters talks about Kurukshetra, various rishi muni, samundra manthan, etc. *Story of Shantanu, Bhishma and Satyavati. Adivansavatarana Parva (chapters: 59–64) *Story of Vichitravirya, and birth of Dhritarasthra, Pandu, and Bidur. *Stories of Karna's birth, Lord Krishna's birth. *Pandu became King *Wedding of Dhritarashtra to Gandhari, Pandu to (Kunti & then Madri), and Bidur. Sambhava Parva (chapters: 65–142...
All characters of Mahabharata (sometimes also included Purans and elsewhere). Generation 1 * King (I) Santanu (Kuru Kingdom, capital Hastinapura) Santanu + Ganga: Bhisma and 7 other children left on river Santanu + Satyavati: King Vichitravirya and Chitrangada *Rishi Parashar + Satyavati (before her wedding) = Rishi Vyasa (also author of Mahabharata) Generation 2 * Bhisma Pitamah: unmarried * King (II) Vichitravirya (married Ambika & Ambalika who were sisters) (no child with Vichitravirya) *Rishi Vyasa + Ambika = Dhritarashtra (blind) *Rishi Vyasa + Ambalika = Pandu *Rishi Vyasa + Dasi of Queen Ambika = Bidur (served as the prime minister of Hastinapur) *Rishi Vyasa (with legal wife Vatika) had a son Shuka who narrated Vhagawata Purana. In Mahabharata, Shuka is mentioned in Shanti Parva as he already achieved Moksha before the war. Generation 3 * King (IV) Dhritarashtra ma...