History of Mahābhārata

 janamejaya uvāca

kathitaṁ vai samāsena tvayā sarvaṁ dvijottama

mahābhāratamākhyānaṁ kurūṇāṁ caritaṁ mahat

Janamejaya said: O best of Brāhmaṇas! You have told me in brief history called Mahābhārata, containing great deeds of Kurus.

kathāṁ tvanagha citrārthāṁ kathayasva tapodhana

vistaraśraṇe jātaṁ kautūhalamatīva me

O great ascetic! Recite now fully this wonderful history! I feel great curioity to hear it! 

sa bhavānvistareṇemāṁ punarākhyātumarhati

na hi tṛpyāmi pūrveṣāṁ śṛṇvānaścaritaṁ mahat

You should, therefore, recite it in full! I am not satisfied with hearing in abstract this great history of my ancestors.

na tatkāraṇamalpaṁ vai dharmajñā yatra pāṇḍavāḥ

avadhyānsarvaśo jaghnuḥ praśasyante ca mānavaiḥ

It could not be trifling cause for which virtuous Pāṇḍavas killed those whom they should not have killed and for which they are still praised by men.

kimarthaṁ te naravyāghrāḥ śaktāḥ santā hyanāgasaḥ

prayujyamānānsaṁkleśāntavanto durātmanām

Why did those best of men, Pāṇḍavas, capable of avenging themselves on their enemies, though innocent, quietly suffered persecutions of wicked Kurus?

kathaṁ nāgāyutaprāṇo bāhuśālī vṛkodaraḥ

parikliśyannapi krodhaṁ dhṛtavānvai dvijottama

O best of Brāhmaṇas! Why did mighty armed Bhīma, having strength of 10,000 elephants, though persecuted, patiently kept his anger down?

kathaṁ sā draupadī kṛṣṇā kliśyamānā durātmabhiḥ

śaktā satī dhārtarāṣṭrānnādahatkrodhacakṣuṣā

Why did not chaste Kṛṣṇā, daughter of Drupada, though persecuted by wicked Kurus, burn sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra by her angry eyes, capable as she was to do it?

kathaṁ vyasaninaṁ dyūte pārthau mādrīsutau tadā

anvayuste naravyāghrā bādhyamānā durātmabhiḥ

Why did two sons of Pṛthā, Bhīma and Arjuna and two sons of Mādrī - Nakula and Sahadeva, those best of men, though persecuted by wretches, follow Yudhiṣṭhira, who was addicted to the evil habit of gambling?

kathaṁ dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ suto dharmasya dharmavit

anarhaḥ paramaṁ kleśaṁ soḍhavānsa yudhiṣṭhira

Why did Yudhiṣṭhira, the best of all virtuos men and son of Dharma himself. though acquainted with all duties, suffer great afflictions?

kathaṁ ca bahulāḥ senāḥ pāṇḍavaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ

asyanneko ̍nayatsarvāḥ pitṛlokaṁ dhanaṁjayaḥ

Why did Pāṇḍava, Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa himself being his charioteer and who could by his arrows send to other world hosts of fighting men, suffer so many persecutions?

etadācakṣva me sarvaṁ yathāvṛttaṁ tapodhana

yadyacca kṛtavantaste tatra tatra mahārathāḥ

O great Ṛṣi, tell me all this as they happened. Tell me everything that those highly mighty car warriors did.

vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca

kṣaṇaṁ kuru mahārāja vipulo ̍yamanukramaḥ

puṇyākhyānasya vaktavyaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyaneritaḥ

maharṣeḥ sarvalokeṣu pūjitasya mahātmanaḥ

pravakṣyāmi mataṁ kṛtsnaṁ vyāsasyāmitatejasaḥ

Vaiśampāyana said: O great king! Appoint a time to hear it! This history is very extensive. This is but beginning. I shall recite whole of this history, composed by illustrious Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, great Ṛṣi, Vyāsa of immeasurable mental power, who is adored by all the world.

idaṁ śatasahasraṁ hi ślokānāṁ puṇyakarmaṇām

satyavatyātmajeneha vyākhyātamamitaujasā

This Bharata contains one lac sacred ślokas, composed by the son of Satyavatī, Vyāsa of immeasurable mental power.

ya idaṁ śrāvayedvidvānye cedaṁ śṛṇuyurnarāḥ

te brahmaṇaḥ sthānametya prāpnuyurdevatulyatām

Learned man who reads it to others and those who hear it read, go to the world of Brahmā and become equal to celestials.

idaṁ hi vedaiḥ samitaṁ pavitramapi cottamam

śrāvyāṇāmuttamaṁ cedaṁ purāṇamṛṣisaṁstutam

This Bharata is equal to Vedas. It is holy and excellent. It is worthiest of all that should be listened to. It is Purāṇa, adored by Ṛṣis.

asminnarthaśca kāmaśca nikhilenopadekṣyate

itihāse mahāpuṇye buddhiśca parinaiṣṭhikī

It contains many useful instructions on Artha and Kāma. This sacred history makes heart desire to attain salvation.

akṣudrāndāndānaśīlāṁśca satyaśīlānanāstikān

kārṣṇaṁ vedamimaṁ vidvāñchrāvayitvārthamaśnute

Learned men earn much wealth by reciting this Veda composed by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana to those who are noble, liberal, truthful and believing.

bhrūṇahatyākṛtaṁ cāpi pāpaṁ jahyādasaṁśayam

itihāsamimaṁ śrutvā puruṣo ̍pi sudāruṇaḥ

mucyate sarvapāpebhyo rāhuṇā candramā yathā

jayo nāmetihāso ̍yaṁ śrotavyo vijigīṣuṇā

Sins, even killing embryo, are destroyed by reading or hearing it. Even greatly sinful man, by hearing this history, escapes from all his sins, like sun from Rāhu. This history is called Jaya - victory. It should be heard by those who desire victory.

mahīṁ vijayate rājā śatrūṁścāpi parājayet

idaṁ puṁsavanaṁ śreṣṭhamidaṁ svastyayanaṁ mahat

Hearing it, king can bring whole world under his subjection and defeat all his foes. It is mighty act of propitiation. It is great sacrifice, productive of blessed fruits.

mahiṣī yuvarājābhyāṁ śrotavyaṁ bahuśastathā

vīraṁ janayate putraṁ kanyāṁ vā rājyabhāginīm

It should be heard by crown princes with their wives, for then, they would beget heroic son or a daughter who occupies throne.

dharmaśāstramidaṁ puṇyamarthaśāstramidaṁ param

mokṣaśāstramidaṁ proktaṁ vyāsenāmitabuddhinā

It is Dharma Śāstra, it is also sacred Artha Śāstra, it is also great Mokṣa Śāstra, so said Vyāsa of immeasurable intelligence.

saṁpratyācakṣate cedaṁ tathā śroṣyanti cāpare

putrāḥ śuśrūṣavaḥ santi preṣyāśca priyakāriṇaḥ

It is recited in present age and will be recited in future ages. He, who hears it, gets sons and survivors, who perform their favourite works.

śarīreṇa kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ vācā ca manasaiva ca

sarvaṁ saṁtyajati kṣipraṁ ya idaṁ ṣṛṇuyānnaraḥ

He who hears it, escapes immediately from all his sins that are committed by him in body, word or mind.

bharatānāṁ mahajjanma śṛṇvatāmanasūyatām

nāsti vyādhibhayaṁ teṣāṁ paralokabhayaṁ kutaḥ

He who hears history of Bharata race without being fault finding, can have no fear from diseases, let alone fear of other world.

dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ puṇyaṁ svargyaṁ tathaiva ca

kṛṣṇadvaipāyanenedaṁ kṛtaṁ puṇyacikīrṣuṇā

kīrti prathayatā loke pāṇḍavānāṁ mahātmanām

anyeṣāṁ kṣatriyāṇāṁ ca bhūridraviṇatejasām

ya idaṁ mānavo loke puṇyārthe brāhmaṇāñchucīn

śrāvayeta mahāpuṇyaṁ tasya dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

kurūṇāṁ prathitaṁ vaṁśaṁ kīrtayansatataṁ śuciḥ

In order to extend fame of high souled Pāṇḍavas and other Kṣatriyas, learned an all branches of knowledge, high spirited and already famous in the world for their great deeds, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, moved by desire of benefiting the world, has composed this excellent, sacred and big work, which spreads one ̍s fame and gives one long life. He who, from desire of acquiring virtue, causes this history to be heard in this world by holy Brāhmaṇas, gains inexhaustible virtue. He who recites history of Kurus, becomes immediately pure and holy.

vaṁśamāpnoti vipulaṁ loke pūjyatamo bhavet

yo ̍dhīte bhārataṁ puṇyaṁ brāhmaṇo niyatavrataḥ

He acquires large family and becomes respected in the world. Brāhmaṇa, who reads holy Bhārata regularly,

caturo vārṣikānmāsānsarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

vijñeyaḥ sa ca vedānāṁ pārago bhārataṁ paṭhan

For 4 rainy months of the year, is cleansed of all his sins. He, who has read Bhārata, may be regarded as one who has studied Vedas.

devā rājarṣayo hyatra puṇyā brahmarṣayastathā

kīrtyante dhūtapāpmānaḥ kīrtyate keśavastathā

In it have been described celestials, royal sages, holy and renegate Ṛṣis, sinless Keśava - Kṛṣṇa.

bhagavāṁścāpi deveśo yatra devī ca kīrtyate

anekajanano yatra kārtikeyasya saṁbhavaḥ

God of gods, Mahādeva, goddess Pārvatī, birth of Kārtikeya, who had many mothers.

brāhmaṇānāṁ gavāṁ caiva māhātmyaṁ yatra kīrtyate

sarvaśrutisamūho ̍yaṁ śrotavyo dharmabuddhibhiḥ

And greatness of Brāhmaṇas and kine. It is collection of all Śrutis and work worthy to be heard by virtuous minded men.

ya idaṁ śrāvayedvidvānbrāhmaṇāniha parvasu

dhūtapāpmā jitasvargo brahma gacchati śāśvatam

Learned man, who recites it to Brāhmaṇas during sacred Parvas - lunar changes, is cleansed of all his sins and being victorious over heaven - not caring for it, attains to union with Brahman.

śrāvayedbrāhmaṇāñcchrāddhe yaścemaṁ pādamantataḥ

akṣayyaṁ tasya tacchrāddhamupāvartetpitṛniha

He who causes even single line of it to be heard by Brāhmaṇas at Śrāddha, that Śrāddha becomes inexhaustible and Pitṛs become gratified with food presented to them.

ahnā yadenaḥ kriyate indriyairmanasāpi vā

jñānādajñānato vāpi prakaroti naraśca yat

Sins that are committed daily by our senses and by our mind and those who are commited knowingly or unknowingly by any man.

tanmahābhāratākhyānaṁ śrutvaiva pravilīyate

bharatānāṁ mahājjanma mahābhāratamucyate

Are all destroyed by hearing Mahābhārata, history of great births of Bhārata princes is called Mahābhārata.

niruktamasya yo veda sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

bharatānāṁ yataścāyamitihāso mahādbhutaḥ

He who knows etymology of the name Bharata is cleansed of all his sins. As this history of Bharata race is wonderful.

mahato hyenaso martyānmocayedanukīrtitaḥ

tribhirvarṣairlabdhakāmaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ

Therefore, when recited, it purifies men of their sins. Ṛṣi Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana completed it in 3 years.

nityotthitaḥ śuciḥ śakto mahābhāratamāditaḥ

tapo niyamamāsthāya kṛtametanmaharṣiṇā

Rising daily in the morning, purifying himself by ablutions and performing all his religious duties, he composed this Mahābhārata.

tasmānniyamasaṁyuktaiḥ śrotavyaṁ brāhmaṇairidam

kṛṣṇaproktāmimaṁ puṇyāṁ bhāratīmuttamāṁ kathām

Therefore, Brāhmaṇas should hear, with prescribed rules, this holy history, this excellent narration of Bhārata, composed by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana.

śrāvayiṣyanti ye viprā ye ca śroṣyanti mānavāḥ

sarvathā vartamānā vai na te śocyāḥ kṛtākṛtaiḥ

Brāhmaṇas who recite it for others to hear it and those who hear it, in whatewer state they may be, can never be affected by fruits of good or bad deeds.

nareṇa dharmakāmena sarvaḥ śrotavya ityapi

nikhilenetihāso ̍yaṁ tataḥ siddhimavāpnuyāt

Man, who is desirous of acquiring virtue, should hear it all. It is equal to all histories in the world and he who hears it acquires purity of heart.

na tāṁ svargagatiṁ prāpya tuṣṭiṁ prāpnoti mānavaḥ

yāṁ śrutvaiva mahāpuṇyamitihāsamupāśnute

Bliss that one enjoys in attaining heaven is secretly equal to that which one derives from hearing this greatly holy history.

śṛṇvañcchrāddhaḥ puṇyaśīlaḥ śrāvayaṁścedamadbhutam

naraḥ phalamavāpnoti rājasūyāśvamedhayoḥ

Virtuous man, who hears or causes it to be heard with reverence, obtains fruits of Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifice.

yathā samudro bhagavānyathā merurmahāgiriḥ

ubhau khyātau ratnanidhī tathā bhāratamucyate

This Bhārata is said to be a mine of gems, as illustrious ocean or great mountain Meru.

idaṁ hi vedaiḥ samitaṁ pavitramapi cottamam

śravyaṁ śrutisukhaṁ caiva pāvanaṁ śīlavardhanam

This Bhārata is sacred and excellent and it equals Vedas in sanctity. It is worthy of being heard, it is pleasing to the ear. It is sin destroying and virtue incresing.

ya idaṁ bhārataṁ rājanvācakāya prayacchati

tena sarvā mahī dattā bhavetsāgaramekhalā

O king, he who gives a copy of Mahābhārata to one who asks for it, does give not a copy of a book, but whole of Earth having a belt of seas.

pārikṣitakathāṁ divyāṁ puṇyāya vijayāya ca

kathyamānāṁ mayā kṛtsnāṁ ṣṛṇu harṣakarīmimām

O son of Parīkṣit, this pleasant and sacred history that secures victory to the gearer, I shall now recite to you in full. Listen to it!

tribhirvarṣaiḥ sadotthāyī kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ

mahābhāratamākhyānaṁ kṛtavānidamadbhutam

Ṛṣi Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, regularly rising every morning for three years, composed this wonderful history, called Mahābhārata.

dharme cārthe ca kāme ca mokṣe ca bharatarṣabha

yadihāsti tadanyatra yannehāsti na tatkvacit

O best of Bharata race, whatever about Dharma, Artha, Kāma, Mokṣa, that is contained in this Bhārata, may be met elsewhere, but whatewer is not in it, is not to be found anywhere.