Mahabharata

नारायणं सुरगुरुं जगदेकनाथं' भक्तप्रियं सकललोकनमस्कृतं च। त्रैगुण्यवर्जितमजं विभुमाद्यमीशं वन्दे भवघ्नममरासुरसिद्धवन्द्यम्

I bow to Nārāyaṇa, the teacher of the gods, the sole lord of the world, beloved of devotees, honored by all beings, free from the three qualities, unborn, all-pervading, the first, the lord, destroyer of worldly existence, worshipped by gods, asuras, and siddhas.

नमो धर्माय महते नमः कृष्णाय वेधसे। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतान्

Salutation to great Dharma, salutation to Kṛṣṇa the creator; having bowed to the Brāhmaṇas, I shall declare the eternal laws.

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय। ॐ नमः पितामहाय। ॐ नमः प्रजापतिभ्यः। ॐ नमः कृष्णद्वैपायनाय। ॐ नमः सर्वविघ्नविनायकेभ्यः

Om, salutation to the blessed Vāsudeva; om, salutation to the Grandfather; om, salutation to the Progenitors; om, salutation to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana; om, salutation to all removers of obstacles.

रोमहर्षणपुत्र उग्रश्रवाः सौतिः पौराणिको नैमिशारण्ये शौनकस्य कुलपतेर्द्वादशवार्षिके सत्रे

Ugraśravā, the son of Romaharṣaṇa, the Sauti, versed in the Purāṇas, came to the twelve-year sacrifice of Śaunaka, the head of the family, at Naimiṣāraṇya.

सुखासीनानभ्यगच्छद्ब्रह्मर्षीन्संशितव्रतान्। विनयावनतो भूत्वा कदाचित्सूतनन्दनः

Once, the son of Sūta, with humility, approached the sages devoted to strict vows, as they sat comfortably.

तमाश्रममनुप्राप्य नैमिशारण्यवासिनः। `उवाच तानृषीन्सर्वान्धन्यो वोऽस्म्यद्यदर्शनात्

Having reached that hermitage, he said to all the sages dwelling in Naimiṣāraṇya, 'I am blessed today by seeing you.'

वेद वैयासिकीः सर्वाः कथा धर्मार्यैसंहिताः। वक्ष्यामि वो द्विजश्रेष्ठाः शृण्वन्त्वद्य तपोधनाः

O best of twice-born, I shall relate to you all the stories, righteous and noble, composed by Vyāsa; listen today, O ascetics rich in austerity.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नैमिशारण्यवासिनः। चित्रा श्रोतुं कथास्तत्र परिव्रुस्तपस्विनः

Hearing these words of his, the ascetics dwelling in Naimiṣāraṇya, eager to hear wondrous tales, gathered there.

अभिवाद्य मुनींस्तांस्तु सर्वानेव कुताञ्जलिः। अपृच्छत्स तपोवृद्धिं सद्भिश्चैवाभिपूजितः

Having respectfully greeted all those sages with joined palms, and honored by the virtuous, he inquired about their progress in austerity.

अथ तेषूपविष्टेषु सर्वेष्वेव तपस्विषु। निर्दिष्टमासनं भेजे विनयाद्रौमहर्षणिः

Then, when all those ascetics were seated, Romaharṣaṇa's son, out of respect, took the seat assigned to him.

सुखासीनं ततस्तं तु विश्रान्तमुपलक्ष्य च। अथापृच्छदृषिस्तत्र कश्चित्प्रस्तावयन्कथाः

Then, seeing him seated comfortably and at rest, a certain sage there began to ask questions, introducing the topics.

कुत आगम्यते सौते क्वचायं विहृतस्त्वया। कालः कमलपत्राक्ष शंसैतत्पृच्छतो मम

From where have you come, O Sauti? Where have you wandered? Tell me, lotus-eyed one, the time, as I ask you this.

एवं पृष्टोऽब्रवीत्सम्यग्यथावद्रौमहर्षणिः। वाक्यं वचनसंपन्नस्तेषां च चरिताश्रयम्

Thus questioned, Romaharṣaṇa's son replied properly and fittingly, his speech full of meaning and based on their deeds.

तस्मिन्सदसि विस्तीर्णे मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्

In that vast assembly of sages of purified minds,

समीपे पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य सम्यक्पारिक्षितस्य च। कृष्णद्वैपायनप्रोक्ताः सुपुण्या विविधाः कथाः

Near the king Parīkṣit, who had been duly tested, were recited the most virtuous and various tales spoken by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana.

कथिताश्चापि विधिवद्या वैशंपायनेन वै। श्रुत्वाऽहं ता विचित्रार्था महाभारतसंश्रिताः

And those stories, full of wondrous meaning and connected with the Mahābhārata, were also properly told by Vaiśaṃpāyana, which I heard.

बहूनि संपरिक्रम्य तीर्थान्यायतनानि च। समन्तपञ्चकं नाम पुण्यं द्विजनिषेवितम्

Having traveled to many holy places and shrines, I came to the sacred Samantapañcaka, frequented by the twice-born.

गतवानस्मि तं देशं युद्धं यत्राभवत्पुरा। कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्

I have gone to that place where, in ancient times, the battle took place between the Kurus, the Pandavas, and all the kings of the earth.

दिदृक्षुंरागतस्तस्मात्समीपं भावतामिह। आयुष्मन्तः सर्व एव ब्रह्मभाता हि मे मताः।। अस्मिन्यज्ञे महाभङ्गाः सूर्यपावकवर्चसः

Desiring to see it, I have come here into your presence; all of you are long-lived, and to me you appear as embodiments of Brahman. At this sacrifice, great sages, radiant like the sun and fire, are assembled.

कृताभिषेकाः शुचयः कृतजप्या हुताग्नयः। भवन्त आसते स्वस्था ब्रवीमि किमहं द्विजाः

Having performed their ablutions, pure, having completed their recitations, and with their sacred fires kindled, you all sit here in peace; O twice-born, what should I say?

पुराणसंहिताः पुण्याः कथा धर्मार्थसंश्रिताः। इतिवृत्तं नरेन्द्राणामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्

The ancient, sacred collections of stories, rooted in righteousness and purpose, recount the deeds of kings and of great-souled seers.

द्वैपायनेन यत्प्रोक्तं पुराणं परमर्षिणा। सुरैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिश्चैव श्रुत्वा यदभिपूजितम्

The Purana spoken by the supreme sage Dvaipayana, which was honored by the gods and Brahmarshis after hearing it—

तस्याख्यानवरिष्ठस्य विचित्रपदपर्वणः। सूक्ष्मार्थन्याययुक्तस्य वेदार्थैर्भूषितस्य च

Of that foremost narration, with its varied and intricate chapters, endowed with subtle meanings and reasoning, and adorned with the essence of the Vedas—

भारतस्येतिहासस्य पुण्यां ग्रन्थार्थसंयुताम्। संस्कारोपगतां ब्राह्मीं नानाशास्त्रोपबृंहिताम्

Of the Mahabharata, that sacred history, filled with the meaning of its verses, refined in composition, expressed in the language of the Brahmins, and enriched by many teachings—

जनमेजयस्य यां राज्ञो वैशंपायन उक्तवान्। यथावत्स ऋषिः पृष्टः सत्रे द्वैपायनाज्ञया

Which the sage Vaishampayana recited to King Janamejaya, exactly as he was questioned, by the command of Dvaipayana—

वेदैश्चतुर्भिः सयुक्तां व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः। संहितां श्रोतुमिच्छामः पुण्यां पापभयापहाम्

That compilation, joined with the four Vedas, created by the wondrous deeds of Vyasa, we wish to hear—sacred, and removing the fear of sin.

आद्यं पुरुषमीशानं पुरुहूतं पुरुष्टुतम्। ऋतमेकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्यक्ताव्यक्तं सनातनम्

The primeval Person, the Lord, the much-invoked, the most praised among men; the single-syllabled Truth, Brahman, manifest and unmanifest, eternal—

असच्च सच्चैव च यद्विश्वं सदसतः परम् परावराणां स्रष्टारं पुराणं परमव्ययम्

That which is non-being and being, the universe, and that which is beyond being and non-being; the creator of the higher and lower, the ancient, the supreme, the imperishable—

मङ्गल्यं मङ्गलं विष्णुं वरेण्यमनघं शुचिम्। नमस्कृत्य हृषीकेशं चराचरगुरुं हरिम्

Having bowed to auspicious Vishnu, the most excellent, sinless, pure, Hrishikesha, the teacher of all that moves and does not move, Hari—