King Pariskshit was under a curse for seven days. What Parikshit did during these seven days is not mentioned in Mahabharata, but is narrated in Srimad Bhagavatam. Parikshit received Srimad Bhagavatam as an Upadesa from Rishi Sukadeva during these seven days when he was awaiting the curse to materialize.

Devas overcame Asuras within one minute in a fight. This took place Naimisaranyam (Nimisha + Aranyam). This is mentioned in Varaha Purana.

Brahma once released a Chakra resembling Surya. The tip of the Chakra was called Naimi. The place where the tip struck was deemed most suited for Tapas. This struck Naimisaranyam. This is narrated in Vayu Puranam.

The version of Mahabharata narrated in Naimisaranya is what we hear now.

Sarpa Satra Yajna did not take place in Naimisaranyam.

Dweepa refers to an Island (Dvaipayana means island born). Vyasa was born in an island on the river Yamuna to Satyavati and Rishi Parashara. As a child he grew up very fast and learnt all Vedas and Shastras. For the benefit of Shantanu’s lineage, he fathered Pandu, Dhritarashtra and Vidhura.

Vaisampayana narrated the greatness of Mahabharata to Janamejaya. During this narration he mentioned that it took three years for Sage Vyasa to compile Mahabharata.

At the request of Janamejaya, Vaisampayana recites a summary of Mahabharata. In this narration he refers to Duryodhana and Karna as cruel natured. Thus, in the original text itself, Karna is referred to as cruel natured. This counters the current liberal description that Karna was one of noble character. It is also an incorrect belief that Karna grew up in a lower caste. He was brought up by Sutas, which refers to children born to a Brahmin woman and a Kshatriya man, both being upper castes.

Vaisampayana narrates a quick summary of Mahabharata in Ams’avatarana Parva to Janamejaya.

Janamejaya is not satisfied with the short version and requests the full version of Mahabharata. He poses seven questions to Vaisampayana -Why are Pandavas celebrated for killing their Gurus and relatives, Why did Pandavas stay quiet when Duryodhana was inflicting pains on them, Why did the powerful Bhima tolerate the insults, Why did Draupadi who was born out of Yajna power not destroy her tormentors with her power and reduce them to ashes, Why did Pandavas obey Yudishtira even when he was a slave to the evil habit of gambling, Why did Yudishtira suffer, Why did the fearless Arjuna go through such travails?

Vaisampayana then began the narration of the full Mahabharata and described the greatness of Mahabharata to Janamejaya.

Vasu was the King in the Paurava dynasty and ruled the Chedi region. He did Tapas to obtain the status of Indra. Devas and Indras wanted to discourage him. Indra appeared before King Vasu and praised him. He presented him a chariot made of Spatika that would enable him to roam anywhere. He presented him the Vaijayanti Mala which will make King Vasu invincible in any war.

Indra also gave him a pole made of bamboo and decreed that worshipping the Dwaja will make Vasu capable of protecting Rishis and noble men. Indra-Dwaja festival originates from this incident. This is celebrated in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. There are references to Indra Vizha in Silappadhikaram and Manimegalai. This was celebrated in Kaviripoompattinam of Chozas and Madurai of Pandiyas.

Sage Vyasa was born to the daughter of Vasu and Rishi Parashara.

Vaisampayana refers to Mahabharata as the “fifth” meaning that the other four are Vedas. Sage Vyasa is the compiler of the four Vedas and the Mahabharata. Since Mahabharata comprises everything that the four Vedas have, it is also referred to as Panchama Veda.

Satyavati was born as human child to a fish. She smelt of fish and was therefore called Matsyagandhi. When Rishi Parashara sought to have a child with her, she consented. When she was granted a boon by Rishi Parashara, she asked for her body odour to be removed. Thereafter her body started smelling fragrantly and she was called Parimalagandhi.

The child of Satyavati and Rishi Parashara is Sage Vyasa, who would father Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidhura.

Sage Animandavya was wrongfully blamed and sentenced to be impaled. He was enraged by this blame. He summoned Dharmaraja and cursed him for the lapse of Dharma. He cursed that Dharmaraja would be born as a Shudra. Dharma took birth as Vidhura due to this curse and remained as an embodiment of virtue in Mahabharata.