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.
कथं समभवद्भेदस्तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्। तच्च युद्धं कथं वृत्तं भूतान्तकरणं महत्
How did division arise among those who acted without fault? And how did that great war, which brought destruction, take place?
पितामहानां सर्वेषां दैवेनाविष्टचेतसाम्। कार्त्स्न्येनैतन्ममाचक्ष्व यथा वृत्तं द्विजोत्तम। `इच्छामि तत्त्वतः श्रोतुं भगवन्कुशलो ह्यसि
Tell me in full about all the ancestors, whose minds were seized by fate, as it happened, O best of twice-born; I wish to hear the truth, O revered one, for you are skilled.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा। शशास शिष्यमासीनं वैशंपायनमन्तिके
Hearing his words, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana then instructed his disciple Vaiśampāyana, who was seated nearby.
कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च यथा भेदोऽभवत्पुरा। तदस्मै सर्वमाचक्ष्व यन्मत्तः श्रुतवानसि
Tell him everything about how the division arose between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas in ancient times, as you have heard it from me.
गुरोर्वचनमाज्ञाय स तु विप्रर्षभस्तदा। आचचक्षे ततः सर्वमितिहासं पुरातनम्
Obeying the teacher's command, that foremost of Brāhmaṇas then recounted the entire ancient history.
राज्ञे तस्मै सदस्येभ्यः पार्थिवेभ्यश्च सर्वशः। भेदं सर्वविनाशं च कुरुपाण्डवयोस्तदा
To the king, to the members of the assembly, and to all the rulers, he narrated the division and total destruction of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas.
शृणु राजन्यथा वीरा भ्रातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः। विरोधमन्वगच्छन्त धार्तराष्ट्रैर्दुरात्मभिः
Hear, O King, how the five heroic sons of Pandu came into conflict with the evil-hearted sons of Dhritarashtra.
गुरवे प्राङ्नमस्कृत्य मनोबुद्धिसमाधिभिः। संपूज्य च द्विजान्सर्वांस्तथान्यान्विदुषो जनान्
Having first bowed to the teacher with mind and intellect composed, and having duly honored all the Brahmanas and other learned men,
महर्षेर्विश्रुतस्येह सर्वलोकेषु धीमतः। प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्यामिततेजसः
I shall declare in full the opinion of the illustrious sage Vyasa, renowned among all worlds for his wisdom and immeasurable brilliance.
श्रोतुं पात्रं च राजंस्त्वं प्राप्येमां भारतीं कथाम्। गुरोर्वक्त्रपरिस्पन्दो मनः प्रोत्साहतीव मे
You, O King, are worthy to hear this Bharata tale; the movement of the teacher’s lips greatly stirs my mind.