Gangā had promised to Prateepa that she would be extremely affectionate to her son and would make him happy. However, he cannot question any of her actions. Prateepa had conveyed this to Shantanu. When Shantanu asked Gangā to be his wife, she again obtained a promise from Shantanu that he would not question her actions and will always speak affectionately.

He maintained this promise even though Gangā drowned seven of their sons one by one. He could not hold himself back when Gangā was about to drown the eighth child. At that time, Gangā revealed that she is Gangā and narrated the story behind the drowning of seven sons. Gangā then said that the eighth child will bring fame to him. She promised to bring him up and then return him to Shantanu.

Vaisampayana heard Mahabharata from Vyasa (1st). Ugrashravas heard the narration of Vaisampayana to Janamejaya (2nd). Saunaka and other Rishis heard it from Ugrashravas (3rd). This is the version that we hear and read.

Rishi Śukrāchārya knew the Sanjeevani Vidya which could revive the dead. Therefore, Asurās could maintain a steady population while that of Dēva’s steadily decreased.
To overcome this, Dēva’s requested the Kacha, son of their Guru Brhaspati to study under Śukrāchārya and learn the Sanjeevani Vidya. Kacha accordingly did so.

The assembly of snakes (sons of Kadru) were discussing how the Sarpa Yajna of Janamejaya can be stopped. Vasuki presided over the assembly and discarded all crooked suggestions of the snakes. Vasuki mentioned that only the compassion of their father Kashyapa Maharishi can save them. One of the brothers Elapatra then mentioned that for those affected by fate, only surrendering to fate can help. He also mentioned that he had overheard Brahma when Kadru cursed the snake brothers. Brahma had told Devas that the curse is pre-ordained. Dharmic snakes will survive and others will perish. Rishi Jaratkaru will marry the sister of Vasuki and he alone can put a stop to the snakes being killed. Elapatra then requested Vasuki to give his sister in alms to Rishi Jaratkaru. Vasuki also heard this from Brahma after Samudra Manthanam where Vasuki served as the rope.

The only way Garuda could free his mother and himself from slavery was by giving the Amrut to the snakes. Indra warned Garuda that it is not wise as the snakes had become evil. Garuda promised Indra that he can take away the Amrut once his mother Vinata had been liberated from slavery. Accordingly, Garuda took the Amrut and gave it to his snake-brothers. As promised by them, Vinata (and Garuda too) were released from slavery. Before the snakes could drink the Amrut, Garuda advised them to complete the daily rituals. When the snakes went for their bath, Indra swooped down as planned and took away the Amrut. When the snakes returned, they realized they have lost the Amrut. In desperation, they tried licking the Dharba mat on which small drops of Amrut may have fallen. When they were licking the mat, a blade of Dharba grass split their tongue.

Yudhiṣṭhira was cautious as he had already been warned by Vidhura about fire hazard. By the smell of fat and oil, Yudhiṣṭhira realised that the house was made of combustible material. After further inspection, he realised that it was made of lacquer. Bhīma suggested that they should shift to the house they were staying earlier. Yudhiṣṭhira however cautioned that if they leave the house, Purocana will suspect that their plot has been revealed. So he suggested that they should stay in the house, but plan to save themselves from the danger.

The Merit of the Epic
Ugrashravas extols the merit of the Mahabharata.

The merit of the Grihastha (householder) Ashrama is considered higher than the merit of all other ashramas combined (Brahmacharya, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa). Likewise, the merit of the Mahabharata is considered greater than all other literary works combined.

Just as light is the source of life for four categories of life, the Mahabharata is the source for all stories in the world. The Mahabharata is the essence out of which the Puranas, Upapuranas, and all other works arose. The seed of all modern stories can be found within the Mahabharata.

Vasuki (who is a male snake) is aware that his relatives have been cursed to death in Janamejaya’s Yajna. He was also aware that Jaratkaru’s offspring can save them from death. To ensure that the snakes are saved, he offered to marry his sister to Jaratkaru so that Astika could be born and that Astika could appeal to Janamejaya. Thus, Vasuki ensured the survival of his relatives, the snakes. Astika was born out of the marriage of Rishi Jaratkaru with Vasuki’s sister, also named Jaratkaru.

Hidimbā kept following the Pāṇḍavas even after Bhīma had killed her brother. Hiḍimbā revealed her love for Bhīma.

Bhīma got angry and told her that it is the nature of Rakshasas to feign friendship and then kill humans; and that he would kill her also.

Hiḍimbā begged that Bhīma should marry her. She promised to come to Pāṇḍavas’ help whenever they were in need. She also reminded them that Dharma is maintained by saving one who is in distress and one who follows Dharma even when faced with a lot of difficulty, they are foremost among people.

Yudhiṣṭhira agreed with Hiḍimbā and told her that Bhīma can live with her during the day but he should return to Pāṇḍavas in the night. Kunti also blessed that she would bear a male child with Bhīma.

The serpents gifted nectar to Bhīma. They made a bed for Bhīma where he slept soundly for eight days. The rest of the Pāndavas could not find Bhīma. They assumed Bhīma had returned to Hastināpura earlier and they also went back. Duryodhana however was elated assuming Bhīma was dead.

Kunti was apprehensive and suspected that Duryodhana may have killed Bhīma. Vidhura comforted Kunti that Bhīma will return. He also advised Kunti that she should take care of the other brothers. It took Bhīma eight days to digest the Amruta and then he woke up.