Summary: larger manuscript containing the entire epic. In the critical apparatus of the Aranyakaparvan, various Northern and Southern recension manuscripts are collated, including those in Sarada, Bengali, Grantha, and Devanagari characters. The collations are meticulously done with annotations and corrections noted systematically. The manuscripts are from diverse locations such as Poona, Dacca, and Tanjore, and their ages range from as early as the 15th century to the 19th century. The collation process is conducted at multiple centers, ensuring thorough examination and comparison of textual variants. The importance of the collation work is emphasized, as it forms the basis for the critical reconstruction and constitution of the text of the Mahabharata from its various manuscript traditions, aiding in scholarly analysis and interpretation of this monumental epic narrative.