The great battle at Kurukṣetra is over and the surviving warriors gather around the fallen Bhīṣma in order to draw upon his wisdom. They begin by asking about kingship and governance, before moving on to spiritual philosophy and the practices that lead to liberation.

This latter discussion forms the Mokṣa-dharma-parvan - part of the Śānti-parvan of the Mahābhārata. The subjects discussed are wide ranging but the principal focus is on renunciation of the world, the philosophy of Sāṁkhya, early Vaiṣṇava theism, and probably the earliest teachings we have on the techniques of meditational yoga.