कलशब्दमहाहंसं माख्यानपराम्बुजम् । कथाविस्तीर्णसलिलं कार्ष्ण वेदमहाह्रदम्॥१.
It is a great lake of the Vedas, belonging to the son of Kṛṣṇa (Vyāsa), with the sound of waterpots as great swans, the lotus of narrative as its focus, and the expansive waters of story.
तदिदं भारताख्यानं बह्विर्थं श्रुतिविस्तरम् । तत्त्वतो ज्ञातुकामोऽहं भगवंस्त्वामुपस्थितः॥१.
Therefore, this Bhārata, rich in meaning and vast in scope, I wish to know in its true essence, revered one; to you I have come.
कस्मान्मानुषतां प्राप्तो निर्गुणोऽपि जनार्दनः । वासुदेवो जगत्सूति-स्थिति-संयमकारणम्॥१.
Why did Janārdana, though beyond qualities, take human birth—He, Vāsudeva, the cause of the creation, maintenance, and dissolution of the universe?
कस्माच्च पाण्डुपुत्त्राणामेका सा द्रुपदात्मजा । पञ्चानां महीषी कृष्णा ह्यत्र नः संशयो महान्॥१.
And why was Kṛṣṇā, the daughter of Drupada, the sole queen of the sons of Pāṇḍu, though they were five? On this matter, we have great doubt.
भेषजं ब्रह्महत्याया बलदेवो महाबलः । तीर्थयात्राप्रसङ्गेन कस्माच्चक्रे हलायुधः॥१.
Why did the mighty Baladeva, to expiate the sin of brahminicide, undertake a pilgrimage to holy places, carrying his plough as a weapon?
कथञ्च द्रौपदेयास्तेऽकृतदारा महारथाः । पाण्डुनाथा महात्मानो वधमापुरनाथवत्॥१.
And how did the sons of Draupadī, those great warriors, though without wives, and the noble sons of Pāṇḍu, meet their deaths like men without protectors?
एतत्सर्वं विस्तरशो ममाख्यातुमिहार्हसि । भवन्तो मूढबुद्धीनामवबोधकराः सदा॥१.
All this, in detail, you ought to explain to me here; for you are always those who bring understanding to the minds of the confused.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा मार्कण्डेयो माहमुनिः । दशाष्टदोषरहितो वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे॥१.
Hearing these words, the great sage Mārkaṇḍeya, free from the ten and eight faults, began to speak.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच क्रियाकालोऽयमस्माकं समप्राप्तो मुनिसत्तम । विस्तरे चापि वक्तव्ये नैष कालः प्रशस्यते॥१.
Markandeya said: The time for ritual action has now arrived for us, O eminent sage; but when it comes to speaking at length, this is not the proper moment.
ये तु वक्ष्यन्ति वक्ष्येऽद्य तानहं जैमिने तव । तथा च नष्टसन्देहं त्वां करिष्यन्ति पक्षिणः॥१.
Yet those who will speak, I shall tell you about them today, O Jaimini; and thus, the birds will make your doubts vanish.
पिङ्गाक्षश्च विबोधश्च सुपुत्त्रः सुमुखस्तथा । द्रोणपुत्राः खगश्रेष्ठास्तत्त्वज्ञाः शास्त्रचिन्तकाः॥१.
Pingaksha, Vibodha, Suputra, and Sumukha, the sons of Drona—these are the foremost among birds, knowers of truth, and thinkers upon scripture.
वेदशास्त्रार्थविज्ञाने येषामव्याहता मतिः । विन्ध्यकन्दरमध्यस्थास्तानुपास्य च पृच्छ च॥१.
Their intellect is unobstructed in understanding the meaning of the Vedas and scriptures; they dwell within the caves of the Vindhya mountains—approach them and ask your questions.
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन मार्कण्डेयेन धीमता । प्रत्युवाचर्षिशार्दूलो विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः॥१.
Thus addressed by the wise Markandeya, the tiger among sages replied, his eyes wide with astonishment.
जैमिनिरुवाच अत्यद्भुतमिदं ब्रह्मन् खगवागिव मानुषी । यत् पक्षिणस्ते विज्ञानमापुरत्यन्तदुर्लभम्॥१.
Jaimini said: This is truly wondrous, O Brahman, that the speech of birds is like that of humans, and that your birds have attained knowledge which is exceedingly rare.
तिर्यग्योन्यां यदि भवस्तेषां ज्ञानं कुतोऽभवत् । कथञ्च द्रोणतनयाः प्रोच्यन्ते ते पतत्रिणः॥१.
If they are born among animals, how did they acquire such knowledge? And how are the sons of Drona spoken of as birds?
कश्च द्रोणः प्रविख्यातो यस्य पुत्रचतुष्टयम् । जातं गुणवतां तेषां धर्मज्ञानं महात्मनाम्॥१.
Who is this renowned Drona, whose four sons were born, possessing virtue and knowledge of dharma, and are called great souls?
मार्कण्डेय उवाच शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा यद्वृत्तं नन्दने पुरा । शक्रस्याप्यसरसां चैव नारदस्य च सङ्गमे॥१.
Markandeya said: Listen attentively as I recount what once happened in Nandana, at the meeting of Shakra, the lord of the gods, and Narada.
नारदो नन्दनेऽपश्यत् पुंश्चलीगणमध्यगम् । शक्रं सुराधिराजानं तन्मुखासक्तलोचनम्॥१.
Narada, in Nandana, saw Shakra, king of the gods, among a group of courtesans, his gaze fixed upon their faces.
स तेनर्षिवरिष्ठेन दृष्टमात्रः शचीपतिः । समुत्तस्थौ स्वकं चास्मै ददावासनमादरात्॥१.
As soon as he was seen by that eminent sage, the lord Shachi rose and respectfully offered him his own seat.
तं दृष्ट्वा बलवृत्रघ्नमुत्थितं त्रिदशाङ्गनाः । प्रणेमुस्ताश्च देवर्षि विनयावनताः स्थिताः॥१.
Seeing the mighty slayer of Vritra rise, the divine women bowed to him, and to the sage, standing with humility.
ताभिरभ्यर्चितः सोऽथ उपविष्टे शतक्रतौ । यथार्हं कृतसम्भाषः कथाश्चक्रे मनोरमाः॥१.
Honored by them, and seated beside Shakra, Narada exchanged proper greetings and engaged in delightful conversation.
शक्र उवाच ततः कथान्तरे शक्रस्तमुवाच महामुनिम् । देह्याज्ञां नृत्यतामासां तव याभिमतेति वै॥१.
Shakra said: Then, in the midst of their conversation, Shakra addressed the great sage: 'Give your command as to which of these dancers you desire.'
रम्भा वा कर्कशा वाथ उर्वश्यथ तिलोत्तमा । घृताची मेनका वापि यत्र वा भवतो रुचिः॥१.
Whether Rambha, Karkasha, Urvashi, or Tilottama, or Ghritachi, Menaka, whichever pleases you.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठो वचो शक्रस्य नारदः । विचिन्त्याप्सरसः प्राह विनयावनताः स्थिताः॥१.
Hearing these words of Shakra, the foremost of twice-born, Narada, after considering, spoke to the apsaras who stood there with humility.
युष्माकमिह सर्वासां रूपौदार्यगुणाधिकम् । आत्मानं मन्यते या तु सा नृत्यतु ममाग्रतः॥१.
Among all of you here, whichever considers herself superior in beauty, generosity, and qualities, let her dance before me.
गुणरूपविहीनायाः सिद्धिर्नाट्यस्य नास्ति वै । चार्वधिष्ठानवन्नृत्यं नृत्यमन्यद्विडम्बनम्॥१.
For one lacking in virtue and beauty, success in dance is not possible; just as a dance without proper foundation is mere imitation.
तद्वाक्यसमकालं च एकैकास्ता नतास्ततः । अहं गुणाधिका न त्वं न त्वं चान्याब्रवीदिदम्॥१.
At that very moment, each one of them bowed and said, 'I am superior in qualities, not you; nor are you,' thus did each declare.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच तासां संभ्रममालोक्य भगवान् पाकशासनः । पृच्छ्यतां मुनिरित्याह वक्ता यां वो गुणाधिकाम्॥१.
Markandeya said: Seeing their agitation, the blessed wielder of the thunderbolt said, 'Let the sage be asked; he will declare which of you is superior in qualities.'
शक्रच्छन्दानुयाताभिः पृष्टस्ताभिः सनारदः । प्रोवाच यत् तदा वाक्यं जैमिने तन्निबोध मे॥१.
Questioned by them, following Indra's wish, the sage Narada spoke; listen, O Jaimini, to what he then said.
तपस्यन्तं नगेन्द्रस्थं या वः क्षोभयते बलात् । दुर्वाससं मुनिश्रेष्ठं तां वो मन्ये गुणाधिकाम्॥१.
She among you who can forcibly disturb the great sage Durvasa, who is engaged in austerity atop the mountain, I consider her superior in qualities.