यो विद्याच्चतुरो वेदान्साङ्गोपनिषदो द्विजः। न चाख्यानमिदं विद्यान्नैव स स्याद्विचक्षणः
A twice-born who knows the four Vedas with their limbs and Upaniṣads, but does not know this narrative, is not truly wise.
अर्थशास्त्रमिदं प्रोक्तं धर्मशास्त्रमिदं महत्। कामशास्त्रमिदं प्रोक्तं व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना
This has been declared by Vyāsa of boundless intellect as a treatise on wealth, a great treatise on righteousness, and a treatise on desire.
श्रुत्वा त्विदमुपाख्यानं श्राव्यमन्यन्न रोचते। पुंस्कोकिलगिरं श्रुत्वा रूक्षा ध्वाङ्क्षस्य वागिव
Having heard this narrative, nothing else pleasing to the ear delights; just as, after hearing the voice of a man-cuckoo, the harsh speech of a crow is not pleasing.
इतिहासोत्तमादस्माञ्जायन्ते कविबुद्धयः। पञ्चभ्य इव् भूतेभ्यो लोकसंविधयस्त्रयः
From this supreme history arise the insights of poets, just as from the five elements arise the three worlds.
अस्याख्यानस्य विषये पुराणं वर्तते द्विजाः। अन्तरिक्षस्य विषये प्रजा इव चतुर्विधाः
O twice-born, in the domain of this narrative, the ancient Purāṇa exists; and in the realm of the sky, the fourfold types of beings dwell.
क्रियागुणानां सर्वेषामिदमाख्यानमाश्रयः। इन्द्रियाणां समस्तानां चित्रा इव मनः क्रियाः
This narrative is the foundation for all actions and qualities; just as the mind's activities are diverse for all the senses.
अनाश्रित्यैतदाख्यानं कथा भुवि न विद्यते। आहारमनपाश्रित्य शरीरस्येव धारणम्
Without relying on this narrative, stories do not exist on earth, just as the body cannot be sustained without food and breath.
इदं कविवरैः सर्वैराख्यानमुपजीव्यते। उदयप्रेप्सुभिर्भृत्यैरभिजात इवेश्वरः
All poets live by this narrative; as servants seeking advancement depend on a noble lord.
अस्य काव्यस्य कवयो न समर्था विशेषणे। साधोरिव गृहस्थस्य शेषास्त्रय इवाश्रमाः
Poets are not capable of distinguishing this epic; just as the three other āśramas cannot surpass the householder among the virtuous.
धर्मे मतिर्भवतु वः सततोत्थितानां स ह्येक एव परलोकगतस्य बन्धुः। अर्थाः स्त्रियश्च निपुणैरपि सेव्यमाना नैवाप्तभावमुपयान्ति न च स्थिरत्वम्
May your minds always be devoted to dharma, for it alone is the true companion of one who has departed to the next world. Wealth and women, even when served skillfully, never attain completeness nor stability.
द्वैपायनौष्ठपुटनिःसृतमप्रमेयं पुण्यं पवित्रमथ पापहरं शिवं च। यो भारतं समधिगच्छति वाच्यमानं किं तस्य पुष्करजलैरभिषेचनेन
The immeasurable, auspicious, pure, and sin-destroying Mahābhārata, which emerged from the lips of Dvaipāyana—whoever comprehends it as it is recited, what need has he for ablution with the waters of Puṣkara?
यदह्ना कुरुते पाप ब्राह्मणस्त्विन्द्रियैश्चरन्। महाभारतमाख्याय सन्ध्यां मुच्यति पश्चिमाम्
Whatever sin a brāhmaṇa commits during the day through his senses, by reciting the Mahābhārata, he is freed from the evening twilight.
यद्रात्रौ कुरुते पापं कर्मणा मनसा गिरा। महाभारतमाख्याय पूर्वां सन्ध्यां प्रमुच्यते
Whatever sin he commits at night, by deed, mind, or speech, by reciting the Mahābhārata, he is freed from the morning twilight.
यो गोशतं कनकशृङ्गमयं ददाति विप्राय वेदविदुषे च बहुश्रुताय। पुण्यां च भारतकथां शृणुयाच्च नित्यं तुल्यं फलं भवति तस्य च तस्य चैव
He who gives a hundred cows with golden horns to a learned brāhmaṇa versed in the Vedas, and who listens daily to the sacred tale of the Bhārata, attains equal merit from both.
आख्यानं तदिदमनुत्तमं महार्थं विज्ञेयं महदिह पर्वसंग्रहेण। श्रुत्वादौ भवति नृणां सुखावगाहं विस्तीर्णं लवणजलं यथा प्लवेन
This supreme, great narrative should be understood as vast, with its collection of parvas; hearing it at the outset brings happiness to people, just as a raft enables crossing the wide salty sea.
पौराणिकः पुराणे कृतश्रमः स कृताञ्जलिस्तानुवाच। `मयोत्तङ्कस्य चरितमशेषमुक्तं जनमेजयस्य सार्पसत्रे निमित्तान्तरमिदमपि।' किं भवन्तः श्रोतुमिच्छन्ति किमहं ब्रवाणीति
The Purāṇika, having labored in the Purāṇa, with joined palms, spoke: 'I have told the entire story of Uttanka, which was recounted at Janamejaya's snake sacrifice as a secondary episode. What do you wish to hear? What shall I narrate?'
परं रौमहर्षणे प्रवक्ष्यामस्त्वां नः प्रतिवक्ष्यसि वचः शुश्रूषतां कथायोगं नः कथायोगे
We shall speak to you, O Raumaharṣaṇa, and you will answer us; let us, eager to listen, engage in the narration together.
तत्र भगवान् कुलपतिस्तु शौनकोऽग्निशरणमध्यास्ते। `दीर्घसत्रत्वात्सर्वाः कथाः श्रोतुं कालोस्ति
There, the venerable family head, Śaunaka, sits near the fire sanctuary: 'Because this is a long sacrificial session, there is time to hear all the stories.'
यौऽसौ दिव्याः कथा वेद देवतासुरसंश्रिताः। मनुष्योरगगन्धर्वकथा वेद च सर्वशः
He knows those divine tales connected with gods and asuras, and he knows all the stories of humans, serpents, and gandharvas.
स चाप्यस्मिन्मशे सौते विद्वान्कुलपतिर्दिवजः। दक्षो धृतव्रतो धीमाञ्शास्त्रे चारण्यके गुरुः
And in this assembly, the learned family head, a twice-born, is wise, steadfast in vows, intelligent, and a teacher in both the scriptures and the forest tradition.
सत्यवादी शमपरस्तपस्वी नियतव्रतः। सर्वेषामेव नो मान्यः स तावत्प्रतिपाल्यताम्
He speaks truth, is devoted to self-restraint, ascetic, firm in his vows; he is honored by all of us, so let him be awaited.
तस्मिन्नध्यासति गुरावासनं परमार्चितम्। ततो वक्ष्यसि यत्त्वां स प्रक्ष्यति द्विजसत्तमः
When the teacher is seated in the highly revered seat, then you shall speak whatever he, O best of twice-born, asks you.
एवमस्तु गुरौ तस्मिन्नुपविष्टे महात्मनि। तेन पृष्टः कथाः पुण्या वक्ष्यामि विविधाश्रयाः
So be it. When that great-souled teacher was seated, I will recount the sacred stories of various kinds that he asked about.
सोऽथ विप्रर्षभः सर्वं कृत्वा कार्यं यथाविधि। देवान्वाग्भिः पितॄनद्भिस्तर्पयित्वाऽऽजगाम ह
Then that foremost of Brahmins, having performed all his duties as prescribed, having satisfied the gods with offerings, the ancestors with water, and the sages with words, indeed departed.
यत्र ब्रह्मर्षयः सिद्धाः सुखासीना धृतव्रताः। यज्ञायतनमाश्रित्य सूतपुत्रपुरस्पराः
There, where the Brahmarshis and Siddhas, steadfast in their vows, sat comfortably, having gathered at the sacrificial place, with Sauti seated before them.
ऋत्विक्ष्वथ सदस्येषु स वै गृहपतिस्तदा। उपविष्टेषूपविष्टः शौनकोऽथाब्रवीदिदम्
When the officiating priests and the members of the assembly were seated, the householder also took his seat; then Shaunaka spoke these words.
पुराणमखिलं तात पिता तेऽधीतवान्पुरा। `भारताध्ययनं सर्वं कृष्णद्वैपायनात्तदा।' कच्चित्त्वमपि तत्सर्वमधीषे रौमहर्षणे
O dear one, your father once studied the entire Purana in former times, and all the Mahabharata from Krishna Dvaipayana; I hope you too have studied all that, O son of Romaharshana.
पुराणे हि कथा दिव्या आदिवंशाश्च धीमताम्। कथ्यन्ते ये पुराऽस्माभिः श्रुतपूर्वाः पितुस्तव
For in the Purana are told divine stories and the ancient lineages of the wise, which we have heard before from your father.
तत्र वंशमहं पूर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भार्गवम्। कथयस्व कथामेतां कल्याः स्मः श्रवणे तव
Among those, I wish first to hear of the lineage of Bhrigu; tell us this story, for we are blessed to listen to you.
यदधीतं पुरा सम्यग्द्विजश्रेष्ठैर्महात्मभिः। वैशंपायनविप्राग्र्यैस्तैश्चापि कथितं यथा
What was once properly studied by the best and most noble Brahmins, by the foremost sage Vaishampayana and others, and as it was told by them—