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.
संप्रत्याचक्षते चेदं तथा श्रोष्यन्ति चापरे। पुत्राः शुश्रूषवः सन्ति प्रेष्याश्च प्रियकारिणः
Now, others will recite this, and still others will hear it; there are sons eager to serve, and attendants who act with affection.
भरतानां महज्जन्म शृण्वतामनसूयताम्। नास्ति व्याधिभयं तेषां परलोकभयं कुतः
For those who listen without envy to the great birth of the Bharatas, there is no fear of disease, so how could there be fear of the next world?
शरीरेण कृतं पापं वाचा च मनसैव च। सर्वं संत्यजति क्षिप्रं य इदं शृणुयान्नरः
Whatever sin a man has committed by body, speech, or mind, he quickly abandons all of it if he listens to this.
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुण्यं स्वर्ग्यं तथैव च। कृष्णद्वैपायनेनेदं कृतं पुण्यचिकीर्षुणा
This was composed by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, wishing for merit; it brings fortune, fame, long life, merit, and heaven.
कीर्तिं प्रथयता लोके पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। अन्येषां क्षत्रियाणां च भूरिद्रविणतेजसाम्
Proclaiming the fame of the high-souled Pāṇḍavas in the world, and also of other Kṣatriyas rich in wealth and energy.
सर्वविद्यावदातानां लोके प्रथितकर्मणाम्। य इदं मानवो लोके पुण्यार्थे ब्राह्मणाञ्छुचीन्
Of all those pure in knowledge and renowned for their deeds in the world—whoever, for the sake of merit, causes pure Brāhmaṇas to hear this...
श्रावयेत महापुण्यं तस्य धर्मः सनातनः। कुरूणां प्रथितं वंशं कीर्तयन्सततं शुचिः
One should recite this supremely meritorious, eternal dharma, always recounting with purity the renowned lineage of the Kurus.
वंशमाप्नोति विपुलं लोके पूज्यतमो भवेत्। योऽधीते भारतं पुम्यं ब्राह्मणो नियतव्रतः
A Brahmin of disciplined vows who studies the sacred Bharata attains a vast lineage and becomes most revered in the world.
चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते। विज्ञेयः स च वेदानां पारगो भारतं पठन्
By reciting the Bharata, one is freed from all sins after four months each year, and is to be known as one who has crossed beyond the Vedas.
देवा राजर्षयो ह्यत्र पुण्या ब्रह्मर्षयस्तथा। कीर्त्यन्ते धूतपाप्मानः कीर्त्यते केशवस्तथा
Here are praised the gods, royal sages, and holy brahmarshis, all purified of sin; and so too is Keshava extolled.
भगवांश्चापि देवेशो यत्र देवी च कीर्त्यते। अनेकजननो यत्र कार्तिकेयस्य संभवः
Here, too, the blessed Lord of the gods and the goddess are praised, and the many births and origin of Kartikeya are recounted.
ब्राह्मणानां गवां चैव माहात्म्यं यत्र कीर्त्यते। सर्वश्रुतिसमूहोऽयं श्रोतव्यो धर्मबुद्धिभिः
Here is praised the greatness of Brahmins and of cows; this entire collection of sacred lore should be heard by those wise in dharma.
य इदं श्रावयेद्विद्वान्ब्राह्मणानिह पर्वसु। धूतपाप्मा जितस्वर्गो ब्रह्म गच्छति शाश्वतम्
The learned one who recites this to Brahmins at sacred festivals, purified of sin and victorious over heaven, attains the eternal Brahman.
श्रावयेद्ब्राह्मणाञ्श्राद्धे यश्चेमं पादमन्ततः। अक्षय्यं तस्य तच्छ्राद्धमुपावर्तेत्पितॄनिह
Whoever recites this verse to Brahmins at a śrāddha, his śrāddha becomes inexhaustible and returns to his ancestors here.
अह्ना यदेनः क्रियते इन्द्रियैर्मनसाऽपि वा। ज्ञानादज्ञानतो वापि प्रकरोति नरश्च यत्
Whatever wrong is done in a day by the senses or even by the mind, whether knowingly or unknowingly, by a person—
तन्महाभारताख्यानं श्रुत्वैव प्रविलीयते। भरतानां महज्जन्म महाभारतमुच्यते
That is dissolved simply by hearing this Mahābhārata story; the great birth of the Bharatas is called the Mahābhārata.
निरुक्तमस्य यो वेद सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते। भरतानां महज्जन्म महाभारतमुच्यते
Whoever knows the etymology of this is freed from all sins; the great birth of the Bharatas is called the Mahābhārata.
महतो ह्येनसो मर्त्यान्मोचयेदनुकीर्तितः। त्रिभिर्वर्षैर्महाभागः कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्
Reciting it releases mortals from great sin; in three years, the blessed Krishna Dvaipayana spoke it.
नित्योत्थितः शुचिः शक्तो महाभारतमादितः। तपोनियममास्थाय कृतमेतन्महर्षिणा
Rising daily, pure, and capable, having undertaken ascetic discipline, the great sage composed this Mahābhārata from the beginning.
तस्मान्नियमसंयुक्तैः श्रोतव्यं ब्राह्मणैरिदम्। कृष्णप्रोक्तामिमां पुण्यां भारतीमुत्तमां कथाम्
Therefore, Brahmins endowed with discipline should listen to this, the supreme and sacred tale of Bhārata spoken by Krishna.