Stri Parva — Section 2 of 2 in this original, condensed prose retelling of the eighteen-parva Mahabharata.
The bereaved families perform funeral rites for those killed in battle. Kunti reveals Karna’s birth to her sons, adding another layer of anguish. Dhritarashtra and the Pandavas struggle with anger, remorse and affection. Reconciliation is imperfect, but the living must begin the duties of care and remembrance.
Read this episode in sequence with the other parvas to understand the full storyline, including its moral ambiguity and tragic consequences.