The Mahabharata has two kinds of classifications: an 18-parva classification and a 100-parva classification

1. ādi parva

19 sections • 7,205 shlokas

This parva sets up the backstory behind the narration of the mahābhārata, talks about the kuru lineage, childhood of the pāndavas and kouravas, droupadī’s marriage and the establishment of indraprastha

2. sabhā parva

9 sections • 2,387 shlokas

This parva includes the planning and execution of the rājasūya yagna, the killing of jarāsandha, shishupāla and ends with the game of dice

3. āranyaka parva

16 sections • 10,239 shlokas

This parva is about the pāndavas’ sojourn in the forest. The word vana also means forest and this parva is also sometimes called vana parva. The pāndavas kill many demons, meet sages and listen to many stories. It also contains the incident where karna loses his armour and earrings to indra

4. virāta parva

4 sections • 1,736 shlokas

This parva talks about the incidents that happen while the pāndavas are in their 13th year of exile, in disguise in the kingdom of virāta

5. udyoga parva

12 sections • 6,001 shlokas

This parva covers the preparation for war, the attempts to make peace and prevent

the war and karna learning about the truth of his birth

6. bhīshma parva

4 sections • 5,381 shlokas

This parva covers the bhagavad gītā, the first 10 days of the war and the killing of bhīshma

7. drona parva

8 sections • 8,069 shlokas

This parva covers days 11-15 of the war, the killing of abhimanyu, jayadratha, ghatotkacha and drona

8. karna parva

1 section • 3,870 shlokas

This parva covers day 16 and 17 of the war, the killing of dushasana and karna

9. shālya parva

4 sections • 3,315 shlokas

This parva covers the 18th day of the war. The killing of shalya, shakuni and duryodhana

10. souptika parva

2 sections • 771 shlokas

This parva describes how in the middle of the night, ashvathāmā kills all the sleeping pāndava soldiers

11. strī parva

4 sections • 713 shlokas

In this parva, the women mourn, funerals are performed, the pāndavas learn karna was their brother

12. shānti parva

3 sections • 13,006 shlokas

The longest parva of the epic. bhīshma teaches yudhishthira about dharma, kingship and liberation

13. anushāsana parva

2 sections • 6,493 shlokas

bhīshma finishes teaching yudhishthira and ascends to heaven

14. ashvamedhika parva

1 section • 2,743 shlokas

This parva is about the ashvamedha yagna

15. āshramavāsika parva

3 sections • 1,061 shlokas

This parva is about the kuru elders retiring to the forest at the end of their lives

16. mousala parva

1 section • 273 shlokas

This parva is about the yādava civil war

17. mahāprasthānika parva

1 section • 106 shlokas

This parva is about the final journey of the pāndavas. It is the shortest parva

18. svargārohana parva

1 section • 194 shlokas

The parva is about the ascension to heaven