राज्यं विहतभूयिष्ठं प्रत्यपद्यन्त पाण्डवाः। `इष्ट्वा क्रतूंश्च विविधानश्वमेधादिकान्बहून्
The Pāṇḍavas regained a kingdom that had been greatly diminished, and they performed many diverse sacrifices, including the Aśvamedha and others.
धृतराष्ट्रे गते स्वर्गं विदुरे पञ्चतां गते। गमयित्वा क्रियां स्वर्ग्यां राज्ञाममिततेजसाम्
When Dhṛtarāṣṭra had departed to heaven and Vidura had passed away, they performed the proper rites for those kings of immeasurable splendor, leading them to the heavenly realm.
स्वं धाम याते वार्ष्णेये कृष्णदारान्प्ररक्ष्य च। महाप्रस्थानिकं कृत्वा गताः स्वर्गमनुत्तमम्
When Vārṣṇeya (Kṛṣṇa) had gone to his own abode, and after protecting Kṛṣṇa's wives, they undertook the great departure and attained the supreme heaven.
एवमेतत्पुरावृत्तं तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्। भेदो राज्यविनाशश्च जयश्च जयतांवर
Thus, in ancient times, these events occurred for those whose deeds were unblemished: division, the destruction of the kingdom, and victory, O best of the victorious.
कथितं वै समासेन त्वया सर्वं द्विजोत्तम। महाभारतमाख्यानं कुरूणां चरितं महत्
O best of the twice-born, you have indeed recounted in summary the entire Mahābhārata, the great tale of the deeds of the Kurus.
कथां त्वनघ चित्रार्थां कथयस्व तपोधन। विस्तरश्रवणे जातं कौतूहलमतीव मे
O sinless one, tell the story with its vivid meanings in detail, O possessor of austerity; for in hearing the full account, my curiosity has grown exceedingly.
स भवान्विस्तरेणेमां पुनराख्यातुमर्हति। न हि तृप्यामि पूर्वेषां शृण्वानश्चरितं महत्
You should narrate this again in detail, for I am never satisfied by hearing the great deeds of the ancients.
न तत्कारणमल्पं वै धर्मज्ञा यत्र पाण्डवाः। अवध्यान्सर्वशो जघ्नुः प्रशस्यन्ते च मानवैः
Surely, the reason is not small why the Pāṇḍavas, who know dharma, though innocent, endured and overcame all those adversities, and are praised among men.
किमर्थं ते नरव्याघ्राः शक्ताः सन्तो ह्यनागसः। प्रयुज्यमानान्संक्लेशान्क्षान्तवन्तो दुरात्मनाम्
For what reason were those tiger-like men, though capable and blameless, able to patiently endure the afflictions inflicted by the wicked?
कथं नागायुतप्राणो बाहुशाली वृकोदरः। परिक्लिश्यन्नपि क्रोधं धृतवान्वै द्विजोत्तम
How did Vṛkodara, strong as ten thousand elephants, though afflicted, restrain his anger, O best of the twice-born?
कथं सा द्रौपदी कृष्णा क्लिश्यमाना दुरात्मभिः। शक्ता सती धार्तराष्ट्रान्नादहत्क्रोधचक्षुषा
How did that Kṛṣṇā Draupadī, though tormented by evil men, being virtuous, restrain her wrathful gaze from the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra?
कथं व्यसनिनं द्यूते पार्थौ माद्रीसुतौ तदा। अन्वयुस्ते नरव्याघ्रा बाध्यमाना दुरात्मभिः
How did the tiger-like sons of Madri, though harassed by the wicked, follow the Pārtha who was addicted to dice at that time?
कथं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठः सुतो धर्मस्य धर्मवित्। अनर्हः परमं क्लेशं सोढवान्स युधिष्ठिरः
How did Yudhiṣṭhira, the best among upholders of dharma, the son of Dharma and knower of dharma, though undeserving, endure the utmost suffering?
कथं च बहुलाः सेनाः पाण्डवः कृष्णसारथिः। अस्यन्नेकोऽनयत्सर्वाः पितृलोकं धनंजयः
And how did Dhanaṃjaya, with Kṛṣṇa as his charioteer, subdue many armies, and alone send them all to the realm of the ancestors?
एतदाचक्ष्व मे सर्वं यथावृत्तं तपोधन। यद्यच्च कृतवन्तस्ते तत्रतत्र महारथाः
Tell me all this as it truly happened, O possessor of austerity, and whatever else those great chariot-warriors did here and there.
क्षणं कुरु महाराज विपुलोऽयमनुक्रमः। पुण्याख्यानस्य वक्तव्यः कृष्णद्वैपायनेरितः
Wait a moment, O great king, for this is a vast enumeration; the sacred narrative spoken by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana must be told.
महर्षेः सर्वलोकेषु पूजितस्य महात्मनः। प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्यामिततेजसः
I shall declare the entire teaching of Vyāsa, the great sage of immeasurable splendor, honored in all the worlds.
इदं शतसहस्रं हि श्लोकानां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। सत्यवत्यात्मजेनेह व्याख्यातममितौजसा
This hundred thousand verses of righteous deeds was explained here by Satyavatī's son, of boundless energy.
उपाख्यानैः सह ज्ञेयं श्राव्यं भारतमुत्तमम्। संक्षेपेण तु वक्ष्यामि सर्वमेतन्नराधिप
Together with its stories, the supreme Mahābhārata should be known and heard; but now, O king, I will briefly recount all this.
अध्यायानां सहस्रे द्वे पर्वणां शतमेव च। श्लोकानां तु सहस्राणि नवतिश्च दशैव च। ततोऽष्टादशभिः पर्वैः संगृहीतं महर्षिणा
It contains two thousand chapters and exactly one hundred sections; and ninety thousand and ten verses. The great sage composed it in eighteen books.
य इदं श्रावयेद्विद्वान्ये चेदं शृणुयुर्नराः। ते ब्रह्मणः स्थानमेत्य प्राप्नुयुर्देवतुल्यताम्
Whoever, being learned, recites this, and those men who listen to it, they attain the abode of Brahman and become equal to the gods.
इदं हि वेदैः समितं पवित्रमपि चोत्तमम्। श्राव्याणामुत्तमं चेदं पुराणमृषिसंस्तुतम्
Indeed, this is equal to the Vedas, pure and supreme; among things to be heard, this is the best, praised by the ancient seers.
अस्मिन्नर्थश्च कामश्च निखिलेनोपदेक्ष्यते। इतिहासे महापुण्ये बुद्धिश्च परिनैष्ठिकी
In this most holy epic, both purpose and desire are fully taught, as well as steadfast wisdom.
अक्षुद्रान्दानशीलांश्च सत्यशीलाननास्तिकान्। कार्ष्णं वेदमिमं विद्वाञ्छ्रावयित्वाऽर्थमश्नुते
A learned person who causes those of noble and truthful conduct, not of mean charity or atheism, to hear this Kārṣṇa Veda, obtains its reward.
भ्रूणहत्याकृतं चापि पापं जह्यादसंशयम्। इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा पुरुषोऽपि सुदारुणः
Even a person who has committed the terrible sin of killing an embryo, without doubt, is freed from that sin by hearing this epic.
मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो राहुणा चन्द्रमा यथा। जयो नामेतिहासोऽयं श्रोतव्यो विजिगीषुणा
He is released from all sins, just as the moon is freed from Rāhu; this history called 'Jaya' should be heard by one who seeks victory.
महीं विजयते राजा शत्रूंश्चापि पराजयेत्। इदं पुंसवनं श्रेष्ठमिदं स्वस्त्ययनं महत्
A king conquers the earth and defeats his enemies; this is the best rite for begetting sons, this is a great blessing ceremony.
महिषीयुवराजाभ्यां श्रोतव्यं बहुशस्तथा। वीरं जनयते पुत्रं कन्यां वा राज्यभागिनीम्
It should be heard many times by the chief queen and the crown prince; it produces a heroic son or a daughter fit to inherit the kingdom.
धर्मशास्त्रमिदं पुण्यमर्थशास्त्रमिदं परम्। मोक्षशास्त्रमिदं प्रोक्तं व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना
This is a sacred treatise on dharma, the supreme treatise on artha, and is declared by Vyāsa of boundless wisdom to be a treatise on mokṣa.
धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च मोक्षे च भरतर्षभ। यदिहास्ति तदन्यत्र यन्नेहास्ति न कुत्रचित्। इदं हि ब्राह्मणैर्लोके आख्यातं ब्राह्मणेष्विह
O best of the Bharatas, in dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa, whatever is here is found elsewhere; but what is not here is found nowhere. This has been declared by Brāhmaṇas in the world, and among Brāhmaṇas here.