यन्मां त्वं पृष्टवान्ब्रह्मञ्श्रुत्वा डुण्डुभभाषितम्। व्येतु ते सुमहद्ब्रह्मन्कौतूहलमरिन्दम
O Brahman, that which you have asked me, having heard the words of Dundubha, let your great curiosity be dispelled, O subduer of enemies.
श्रुत्वा धर्मिष्ठमाख्यानमास्तीकं पुण्यवर्धनम्। `सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो दीर्घमायुरवाप्नुयात्
Having heard the righteous tale of Astika, which increases merit, one becomes freed from all sin and attains long life.
भृगुवंशात्प्रभृत्येव त्वया मे कीर्तितं महत्। आख्यानमखिलं तात सौते प्रीतोऽस्मितेन ते
From the lineage of Bhrigu onward, you have recounted to me the great narrative; O Saute, I am pleased by your telling.
प्रक्ष्यामि चैव भूयस्त्वां यथावत्सूतनन्दन। याः कथा व्याससंपन्नास्ताश्च भूयो विचक्ष्व मे
I shall further question you, O son of Suta, as is proper; those stories composed by Vyasa, please narrate them to me again.
तस्मिन्परमदुष्पारे सर्पसत्रे महात्मनाम्। कर्मान्तरेषु यज्ञस्य सदस्यानां तथाऽध्वरे
In that exceedingly difficult snake-sacrifice of the great souls, among the rituals of the sacrifice and the members of the assembly,
या बभूवुः कथाश्चित्रा येष्वर्थेषु यथातथम्। त्वत्त इच्छामहे श्रोतुं सौते त्वं वै प्रचक्ष्व नः
Whatever wondrous stories arose there, according to their subjects, we wish to hear from you, O Saute; please recount them to us.
कर्मान्तरेष्वकथयन्द्विजा वेदाश्रयाः कथाः। व्यासस्त्वकथयच्चित्रमाख्यानं भारतं महत्
Among the rituals, the twice-born recited stories based on the Vedas; but Vyasa narrated the wondrous, great tale of the Bharata.
महाभारतमाख्यानं पाण्डवानां यशस्करम्। जनमेजयेन पृष्टः सन्कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा
The narrative of the Mahabharata, which brings fame to the Pandavas, was then recounted by Krishna Dvaipayana when questioned by Janamejaya.
श्रावयामास विधिवत्तदा कर्मान्तरे तु सः। तामहं विधिवत्पुण्यां श्रोतुमिच्छामि वै कथाम्
He made it heard properly at that time during the rituals; I wish to hear that auspicious tale in the proper manner.
मनःसागरसंभूतां महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः। कथयस्व सतां श्रेष्ठ सर्वरत्नमयीमिमाम्
Born from the ocean of the mind of the great sage of purified soul, narrate this story, O best among the virtuous, which is filled with all gems.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि महदाख्यानमुत्तमम्। कृष्णद्वैपायनमतं महाभारतमादितः
Indeed, I shall narrate to you the great and excellent story, the Mahabharata, as taught by Krishna Dvaipayana, from the beginning.
शृणु सर्वमशेषेण कथ्यमानं मया द्विज। शंसितुं तन्महान्हर्षो ममापीह प्रवर्तते
Hear everything in its entirety as I narrate, O twice-born; great joy arises in me here to proclaim it.
श्रुत्वा तु सर्पसत्राय दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्। अभ्यगच्छदृषिर्विद्वान्कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा
Having heard that Janamejaya was consecrated for the snake-sacrifice, the learned sage Krishna Dvaipayana then approached him.
जनयामास यं काली शक्तेः पुत्रात्पराशरात्। कन्यैव यमुनाद्वीपे पाण्डवानां पितामहम्
Whom Kali bore from Parashara, son of Shakti, as a maiden on the island of Yamuna, the grandsire of the Pandavas.
जातमात्रश्च यः सद्य इष्ट्या देहमवीवृधत्। वेदांश्चाधिजगे साङ्गन्सेतिहासान्महायशाः
And as soon as he was born, by sacrifice he grew his body; he mastered the Vedas with their branches and the histories, being greatly renowned.
यं नाति तपसा कश्चिन्न वेदाध्ययनेन च। न व्रतैर्नोपवासैश्च न प्रसूत्या न मन्युना
Whom no one attained by austerity, nor by study of the Vedas, nor by vows or fasts, nor by birth, nor by anger.
विव्यासैकं चतुर्धा यो वेदं वेदविदां वरः। परावरज्ञो ब्रह्मर्षिः कविः सत्यव्रतः शुचिः
He, the foremost among knowers of the Veda, divided the single Veda into four; knower of the higher and lower, a Brahmarshi, a poet, truthful and pure.
यः पाण्डुं धृतराष्ट्रं च विदुरं चाप्यजीजनत्। शन्तनोः संततिं तन्वन्पुण्यकीर्तिर्महायशाः
He who begot Pandu, Dhritarashtra, and Vidura, extending the lineage of Shantanu, of virtuous fame and great renown.
जनमेजयस्य राजर्षेः स महात्मा सदस्तथा। विवेश सहितः शिष्यैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः
That great-souled sage entered the assembly of King Janamejaya, accompanied by his disciples, who were masters of the Vedas and the Vedāṅgas.
तत्र राजानमासीनं ददर्श जनमेजयम्। वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिर्देवैरिव पुरन्दरम्
There he saw King Janamejaya seated, surrounded by many members of the assembly, like Indra among the gods.
तथा मूर्धाभिषिक्तैश्च नानाजनपदेश्वरैः। ऋत्विग्भिर्ब्रह्मकल्पैश्च कुशलैर्यज्ञसंस्तरे
He was also surrounded by kings anointed from various regions, and by priests skilled in the rites, who were as learned as Brahma.
जनमेजयस्तु राजर्षिर्दृष्ट्वा तमृषिमागतम्। सगणोऽभ्युद्ययौ तूर्णं प्रीत्या भरतसत्तमः
King Janamejaya, the royal sage, seeing that sage arrive, quickly rose together with his attendants, joyfully, O best of the Bharatas.
काञ्चनं विष्टरं तस्मै सदस्यानुमतः प्रभुः। आसनं कल्पयामास यथा शक्रो बृहस्पतेः
With the approval of the assembly, the lord prepared a golden seat for him, just as Śakra does for Bṛhaspati.
तत्रोपविष्टं वरदं देवर्षिगणपूजितम्। पूजयामास राजेन्द्रः शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा
There, seated and honored by the hosts of divine sages, the boon-giver was worshipped by the king according to scriptural rites.
पाद्यमाचमनीयं च अर्घ्यं गां च विधानतः। पितामहाय कृष्णाय तदर्हाय न्यवेदयत्
He offered water for washing the feet, water for sipping, an arghya, and a cow, as prescribed, to the venerable Kṛṣṇa, his grandfather, who was worthy of them.
प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां पाम्डवाज्जनमेजयात्। गां चैव समनुज्ञाय व्यासः प्रीतोऽभवत्तदा
Having received that worship from Janamejaya, and having accepted the cow, Vyāsa was pleased at that moment.
तथा च पूजयित्वा तं प्रणयात्प्रतितामहम्। उपोपविश्य प्रीतात्मा पर्यपृच्छदनामयम्
After honoring him with affection and respect, he sat nearby with a delighted heart and inquired about his well-being.
भगवानापि तं दृष्ट्वा कुशलं प्रतिवेद्य च। सदस्यैः पूजितः सर्वैः सदस्यान्प्रत्यपूजयत्
The revered sage, seeing him and reporting his welfare, was worshipped by all the members of the assembly, and he returned their honor.
ततस्तु सहितः सर्वैः सदस्यैर्जनमेजयः। इदं पश्चाद्द्विजश्रेष्ठं पर्यपृच्छत्कृताञ्जलिः
Then, together with all the members of the assembly, Janamejaya, with joined palms, questioned the foremost of twice-born ones.
कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च भवान्प्रत्यक्षदर्शिवान्। तेषां चरितमिच्छामि कथ्यमानं त्वया द्विज
You are the direct witness of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas; I wish to hear their deeds narrated by you, O twice-born one.