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.
श्रावयिष्यन्ति ये विप्रा ये च श्रोष्यन्ति मानवाः। सर्वथा वर्तमाना वै न ते शोच्याः कृताकृतैः
The Brahmins who will recite and the people who will listen—whatever their circumstances, they are not to be grieved for, whether they have acted or not.
नरेण धर्मकामेन सर्वः श्रोतव्य इत्यपि। निखिलेनेतिहासोऽयं ततः सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात्
Every person who desires dharma should listen to this entire epic; by doing so, one attains success.
न तां स्वर्गगतिं प्राप्य तुष्टिं प्राप्नोति मानवः। यां श्रुत्वैवं महापुण्यमितिहासमुपाश्नुते
A person does not attain the satisfaction from reaching heaven that he enjoys by hearing this supremely meritorious epic.
शृण्वञ्श्राद्धः पुण्यशीलः श्रावयंश्चेदमद्भुतम्। नरः फलमवाप्नोति राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः
If, being pure and virtuous, a person listens to or recites this wondrous tale, he gains the fruit of the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices.
यथा समुद्रो भगवान्यथा मेरुर्महागिरिः। उभौ ख्यातौ रत्ननिधी तथा भारतमुच्यते
Just as the venerable ocean and the great mountain Meru are both renowned as repositories of jewels, so too is the Bharata known.
इदं हि वेदैः समितं पवित्रमषि चोत्तमम्। श्राव्यं श्रुतिसुखं चैव पावनं शीलवर्धनम्
Indeed, this is gathered from the Vedas, pure and most excellent, pleasant to hear, delightful to the ear, purifying, and a promoter of virtue.
य इदं भारतं राजन्वाचकाय प्रयच्छति। तेन सर्वा मही दत्ता भवेत्सागरमेखला
O King, whoever gives this Bharata to a reciter, it is as if he has given the entire earth, girdled by the sea.
पारिक्षित कथां दिव्यां पुण्याय विजयाय च। कथ्यमानां मया कृत्स्नां शृणु हर्षकरीमिमाम्
Hear from me this divine tale of Parikshit, told for merit and victory, complete and bringing joy.
त्रिभिर्वर्षैः सदोत्थायी कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः। महाभारतमाख्यानं कृतवानिदमद्भुतम्
The sage Krishna Dvaipayana, ever diligent for three years, composed this wondrous narrative called the Mahabharata.
शृणु कीर्तयतस्तन्म इतिहासं पुरातनम्
Hear from me as I recite that ancient history.
पूरोर्वंशमहं धन्यं राज्ञाममिततेजसाम्। प्रवक्ष्यामि पितॄणां ते तेषां नामानि मे शृमु
I shall declare the illustrious lineage of Puru, of kings of immeasurable splendor; listen to the names of your ancestors.
अव्यक्तप्रभवो ब्रह्मा शाश्वतो नित्य अव्ययः। तस्मान्मरीचिः संजज्ञे दक्षश्चैव प्रजापतिः
Brahma, whose origin is unmanifest, eternal, everlasting, and imperishable—from him were born Marici and also Daksha, the lord of creatures.
अङ्गुष्ठाद्दक्षमसृजच्चक्षुर्भ्यां च मरीचिनम्। मरीचेः कश्यपः पुत्रो दक्षस्य दुहिताऽऽदितिः
From his thumb, Daksha was created; from his eyes, Marici. Marici's son was Kashyapa, and Daksha's daughter was Aditi.
अदित्यां कश्यपाद्विवस्थान्। विवस्वतो मनुर्मनोरिला
From Aditi and Kashyapa came Vivasvan; from Vivasvan, Manu; from Manu, Ila.
इलायाः पुरूरवाः। पुरूरवस आयुः। आयुषो नहुषः। नहुषस्य ययातिः
From Ila came Pururavas; from Pururavas, Ayu; from Ayu, Nahusha; from Nahusha, Yayati.
ययातेर्द्वे भार्ये बभूवतुः। उशनसो दुहिता देवयानी वृषपर्वणश्च दुहिता शर्मिष्ठा नाम
Yayati had two wives: Devayani, daughter of Ushanas, and Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan.
तत्रानुवंशो भवति। यदुं च तुर्वसुं चैव देवयानी व्यजायत। द्रुह्यं चानुं च पूरुं च शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी
Here is the succession: Devayani bore Yadu and Turvasu; Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan, bore Druhyu, Anu, and Puru.
तत्र यदोर्यादवाः। पूरोः पौरवाः। पूरोर्भार्या कौसल्या बभूव। तस्यामस्य जज्ञे जनमेजयः
From Yadu came the Yadavas; from Puru, the Pauravas. Puru's wife was Kausalya, and in her Janamejaya was born.
स त्रीन्हयमेधानाजहार। विश्वजिता चेष्ट्वा वनं प्रविवेश
He performed three horse sacrifices, and after completing the Visvajit, he entered the forest.
जनमेजयस्तु सुनन्दां नामोपयेमे मागधीं। तस्यामस्य जज्ञे प्राचीन्वान्
Janamejaya married Sunanda, a princess of Magadha; in her, Pracinvan was born.