अहनी युयुधे द्वे तु कर्णः परबलार्दनः। शल्योऽर्धदिवसं चैव गदायुद्धमतः परम्
Karna, destroyer of enemy ranks, fought for two days; and then Shalya, after that, for half a day in mace combat.
तस्यैव दिवसस्यान्ते द्रौणिहार्दिक्यगौतमाः। प्रसुप्तं निशि विश्वस्तं जघ्नुर्यौधिष्ठिरं बलम्
At the end of that very day, Drona's son, Kritavarma, and Kripa, slew the Yudhishthira army, trusting and asleep at night.
यत्तु शौनक सत्रे ते भारताख्यानमुत्तमम्। जनमेजयस्य तत्सत्रे व्यासशिष्येण धीमता
And that supreme tale called the Bharata, O Shaunaka, was recited at Janamejaya's sacrifice by Vyasa's wise disciple.
कथितं विस्तरार्थं च यशो वीर्यं महीक्षिताम्। पौष्यं तत्र च पौलोममास्तीकं चादितः स्मृतम्
It was told in full detail—the glory and valor of kings; and there, at the beginning, Pauṣya, Pauloma, and Astika are remembered.
विचित्रार्थपदाख्यानमनेकसमयान्वितम्। प्रतिपन्नं नरैः प्राज्ञैर्वैराग्यमिव मोक्षिभिः
With stories of varied meaning and expression, containing many occasions, it was embraced by wise men as detachment is by seekers of liberation.
आत्मेव वेदितव्येषु प्रियेष्विव हि जीवितम्। इतिहासः प्रधानार्थः श्रेष्ठः सर्वागमेष्वयम्
Just as life is dear among things to be known, so is this history the foremost and best among all scriptures.
अनाश्रित्येदमाख्यानं कथा भुवि न विद्यते। आहारमनपाश्रित्य शरीरस्येव धारणम्
No tale exists on earth without drawing from this narrative, just as the body cannot be sustained without food.
तदेतद्भारतं नाम कविभिस्तूपजीव्यते। उदयतेप्सुभिर्भृत्यैरभिजात इवेश्वरः
This Bharata is indeed lived upon by poets, as a lord is by his noble servants who seek his rise.
इतिहासोत्तमे यस्मिन्नर्पिता बुद्धिरुत्तमा। स्वरव्यञ्जनयोः कृत्स्ना लोकवेदाश्रयेव वाक्
Where the best intellect is devoted to the supreme history, speech, with all its tones and accents, rests as in worldly and Vedic lore.
तस्य प्रज्ञाभिपन्नस्य विचित्रपदपर्वणः। सूक्ष्मार्थन्याययुक्तस्य वेदार्थैर्भूषितस्य च
For one whose wisdom is thus engaged, whose chapters are adorned with varied words, subtle meanings, sound reasoning, and Vedic import—
भारतस्येतिहासस्य श्रूयतां पर्वसंग्रहः। पर्वानुक्रमणी पूर्वं द्वितीयः पर्वसंग्रहः
Let the collection of sections of the Bharata history be heard; first the list of sections, then the second collection of sections.
पौष्यं पौलोममास्तीकमादिरंशावतारणम्। ततः संभवपर्वोक्तमद्भुतं रोमहर्षणम्
Pauṣya, Pauloma, Āstīka, Ādi, and Āśvatarana; then the wondrous and thrilling Sambhava section is spoken of.
दाहो जतुगृहस्यात्र हैडिम्बं पर्व चोच्यते। ततो बकवधः पर्व पर्व चैत्ररथं ततः
Here, the burning of the lac house is recounted, followed by the Hidimba episode; then comes the slaying of Baka, and after that, the Citra-ratha episode.
ततः स्वयंवरो देव्याः पाञ्चाल्याः पर्व चोच्यते। क्षात्रधर्मेण निर्जित्य ततो वैवाहिकं स्मृतम्
Next is told the svayamvara of the princess Draupadi, where, by the code of warriors, she is won; after that, the marriage episode is remembered.
विदुरागमनं पर्व राज्यलाभस्तथैव च। अर्जुनस्य वने वासः सुभद्राहरणं ततः
The episode of Vidura's arrival, and likewise the gaining of the kingdom; Arjuna's dwelling in the forest, and then the abduction of Subhadra.
सुभद्राहरणादूर्ध्वं ज्ञेया हरणहारिका। ततः खाण्डवदाहाख्यं तत्रैव मयदर्शनम्
After the abduction of Subhadra, the episode called 'the removal of the abductors' is to be known; then the burning of Khandava forest, and there the encounter with Maya.
सभापर्व ततः प्रोक्तं मन्त्रपर्व ततः परम्। जरासन्धवधः पर्व पर्व दिग्विजयं तथा
Then is recounted the Sabha Parva, followed by the Mantra Parva; the slaying of Jarasandha, and then the conquest of the directions.
पर्व दिग्विजयादूर्ध्वं राजसूयिकमुच्यते। ततश्चार्घाभिहरणं शिशुपालवधस्ततः
After the conquest of the directions, the Rajasuya sacrifice is told; then the offering of the arghya, and after that, the slaying of Shishupala.
द्यूतपर्व ततः प्रोक्तमनुद्यूतमः परम्। तत आरण्यकं पर्व किर्मीरवध एवच
Then is recounted the Dice Game episode, and after that, the episode following the dice game; then the Aranyaka Parva, and also the slaying of Kirmira.
अर्जुनस्याभिगमनं पर्व ज्ञेयमतः परम्। ईश्वरार्जुनयोर्युद्धं पर्व कैरातसंज्ञितम्
Next is to be known the episode of Arjuna's departure; the battle between Ishvara and Arjuna, called the Kairata episode.
इन्द्रलोकाभिगमनं पर्व ज्ञेयमतः परम्। नलोपाख्यानमपि च धार्मिकं करुणोदयम्
After that is to be known the episode of Arjuna's journey to Indra's realm; also the tale of Nala, righteous and moving to compassion.
तीर्थयात्रा ततः पर्व कुरुराजस्य धीमतः। जटासुरवधः पर्व यक्षयुद्धमतः परम्
Then the pilgrimage episode of the wise king of the Kurus; the slaying of Jatasura, and after that, the battle with the Yaksha.
निवातकवचैर्युद्धं पर्व चाजगरं ततः। मार्कण्डेयसमास्या च पर्वानन्तरमुच्यते
The battle with the Nivatakavachas, then the episode of the serpent; and next is told the discourse with Markandeya.
संवादश्च ततः पर्व द्रौपदीसत्यभामयोः। घोषयात्रा ततः पर्व ततः प्रायोपवेशनेम्। मन्त्रस्य निश्चयं चैव मृगस्वप्नोद्भवं ततः
Then the episode of the conversation between Draupadi and Satyabhama; after that, the Ghosha-yatra episode, then the vow of fasting unto death, the determination of the counsel, and then the arising of the deer-dream.
व्रीहिद्रौणिकमाख्यानमैन्द्रद्युम्नं तथैव च। द्रौपदीहरणं पर्व जयद्रथविमोक्षणम्
The tale of Vrihidraunika, and likewise that of Indradyumna; the episode of Draupadi's abduction, and the release of Jayadratha.
रामोपाख्यानमत्रैव पर्व ज्ञेयमतः परम्। पतिव्रताया माहात्म्यं सावित्र्याश्चैवमद्भुतम्
Here also is the tale of Rama, to be known next; the greatness of the devoted wife, and the wondrous story of Savitri.
कुण्डलाहरणं पर्व ततः परमिहोच्यते। आरणेयं ततः पर्व वैराटं तदनन्तरम्।। पाण्डवानां प्रवेशश्च समयस्य च पालनम्
The episode of the taking of the earrings is next recounted; then the Araneya Parva, and after that, the Virata Parva; the entry of the Pandavas and the observance of the agreement.
कीचकानां वधः पर्व पर्व ग्रोग्रहणं ततः। अभिमन्योश्च वैराट्याः पर्व वैवाहिकं स्मृतम्
The episode of the slaying of Kichaka, then the episode of the capture of the cows; and the episode of Abhimanyu's marriage in the land of the Matsyas.
उद्योगपर्व विज्ञेयमत ऊर्ध्वं महाद्भुतम्। ततः संजययानाख्यं पर्व ज्ञेयमतः परम्
The Udyoga Parva, wondrous and to be known next; then the episode called Sanjaya-yana is to be known after that.
प्रजागरं तथा पर्व धृतराष्ट्रस्य चिन्तया। पर्व सानत्सुजातं वै गुह्यमध्यात्मदर्शनम्
Then the episode of Dhritarashtra's wakefulness through anxiety; the episode called Sanatsujata, a secret discourse on the inner self.