The sages gathered and addressed the son of Sūta, eager to hear about the sacred region called Samantapañcaka. They asked him to recount its story exactly as it happened. The son of Sūta replied, “O Brahmins, I shall tell you auspicious tales. You, the best among men, are worthy to hear the account of Samantapañcaka.” He began: “At the meeting point of the Tretā and Dvāpara ages, Rāma, the greatest of warriors, was seized by wrath. In his fury, he repeatedly destroyed the royal Kṣatriya class. Having annihilated all the Kṣatriyas by his own strength, blazing like fire, Rāma created five pools filled with blood at Samantapañcaka. In those pools, overwhelmed by anger, he offered the blood to satisfy his ancestors, as has been heard from tradition. Then the ancestors, beginning with Rcīka, approached Rāma and spoke: ‘Rāma, Rāma, greatly fortunate one, we are pleased with you, O Bhārgava. Because of your devotion to your father and your valor, O lord, choose a boon, O illustrious one. Whatever you desire, may it be auspicious for you.’ Rāma replied, ‘If my fathers are pleased with me, if I am worthy of their favor, and since, overcome by anger, I destroyed the Kṣatriyas, then let me be freed from sin—this is the boon I request. And may these lakes become holy places, renowned throughout the earth.’ The ancestors agreed: ‘So shall it be.’ They forbade him further violence, saying, ‘Forgive,’ and Rāma desisted. The region around those lakes, once filled with blood, became celebrated as the sacred Samantapañcaka. Wise men say that a place should be known by the characteristic for which it is properly recognized, and thus the name was given. Later, when the interval between the Kali and Dvāpara ages arrived, another great event occurred at Samantapañcaka. There, a battle was fought between the armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas. In that supremely righteous land, free from the faults of the earth, eighteen armies assembled, eager for battle. Having gathered there, those twice-born warriors met their end in that very place. Thus, O twice-born, the name of that land arose and became famous. That land, sacred and delightful, has now been described to you. Thus, O best of Brahmanas, I have told you all, just as that land became renowned in the three worlds, O virtuous ones. The sages then asked, ‘O son of Sūta, you have mentioned ‘Akshauhini’. We wish to hear in detail, exactly and truly, all about it. Tell us the measure of an Akshauhini—of men, horses, chariots, and elephants—as it is, for all is known to you.’ The son of Sūta explained, ‘One chariot, one elephant, five foot soldiers, and three horses—this, according to those who know, is called a ‘patti’. Three pattis make a ‘senamukha’; three senamukhas make a ‘gulma’. Three gulmas are called a ‘gana’, and three ganas make a ‘vahini’. Three vahinis are known as a ‘pritaṇa’. Three pritaṇas make a ‘camū’, and three camūs make an ‘anīkinī’. Ten anīkinīs together make an ‘akshauhini’. O best of Brahmanas, those skilled in calculation say that an Akshauhini contains twenty-one thousand chariots. In addition, there are eight hundred and seventy elephants. There are one hundred thousand and nine thousand more, plus fifty and three hundred foot soldiers. There are sixty-five thousand, plus hundreds of horses—one hundred and six, as is properly stated. Those who know the truth of numbers declare this to be an Akshauhini, which I have described to you in detail, O ascetics. With this reckoning, O best of twice-born, there were eighteen Akshauhinis marshaled for the armies of the Kurus and Pandavas. Gathered together in that place, they met their end there, having made the Kauravas the cause, through the wondrous workings of time. Bhishma, master of divine weapons, fought for ten days; then Drona protected the Kuru army for five days. Karna, destroyer of enemy ranks, fought for two days; after him, Shalya fought for half a day in mace combat. At the end of that very day, Drona's son, Kritavarma, and Kripa slew the Yudhishthira army, trusting and asleep at night. This supreme tale, called the Bharata, O Shaunaka, was recited at Janamejaya's sacrifice by Vyasa's wise disciple. It was told in full detail—the glory and valor of kings; and there, at the beginning, Pauṣya, Pauloma, and Astika are remembered. With stories of varied meaning and expression, containing many occasions, it was embraced by wise men as detachment is by seekers of liberation. Just as life is dear among things to be known, so is this history the foremost and best among all scriptures. No tale exists on earth without drawing from this narrative, just as the body cannot be sustained without food. This Bharata is indeed lived upon by poets, as a lord is by his noble servants who seek his rise. Where the best intellect is devoted to the supreme history, speech, with all its tones and accents, rests as in worldly and Vedic lore. For one whose wisdom is thus engaged, whose chapters are adorned with varied words, subtle meanings, sound reasoning, and Vedic import, the tale of Bharata stands supreme.