Introduction of Mahābhārata

 śaunaka uvāca

bhṛguvaṁśātprabhṛtyeva tvayā me kīrtitaṁ mahat

ākhyānamakhilaṁ tāta saute prīto ̍smi tena te

Śaunaka said: O child! O Sauti! You have narrated to me this great and extensive story of the Bhṛgu race from the birth of Bhṛgu. I am much pleased with you!

vakṣyāmi caiva bhūyastvāṁ yathāvatsūtanandana

yāḥ kathā vyāsasaṁpannāstāśca bhūyo vicakṣva me

tasminparamaduṣpāre sarpasatre mahātmanām

karmāntareṣu yajñasya sadasyānāṁ yathādhvare

O son of Suta! I ask you now to recite to me that wonderful and varied narrations composed by Vyāsa, which were recited by illustrious Sadasyas in the intervals of long extended ceremony of snake sacrifice.

yā babhūvuḥ kathāścitrā yeṣvartheṣu tathātatham

tvatta icchāmahe śrotuṁ saute tvaṁ vai pracakṣva naḥ

O son of Suta! I wish to learn from you the object of those narrations. Therefore, recite them to me in full!

sautiruvāca

karmāntareṣvakathayandvijā vedāśrayāḥ kathāḥ

vyāsastvakathayaccitramākhyānaṁ bhārataṁ mahat

Sauti said: Brāhmaṇas spoke of many things, founded in Vedas, in the intervals of their duties, but Vyāsa recited wonderful and great history, called Bhārata.

śaunaka uvāca

mahābhāratamākhyānaṁ pāṇḍavānāṁ yaśaskaram

janamejayena pṛṣṭaḥ sankṛṣṇadvaipāyanastadā

śrāvayāmāsa vidhivattadā karrmāntare tu saḥ

tāmahaṁ vidhivatpuṇyāṁ śrotumicchāmi vai kathām

Śaunaka said: I desire to hear that sacred history, called Mahābhārata, that spreader of the fame of fame of Pāṇḍavas, which Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, asked by Janamejaya, caused to be duly recited in intervals of sacrifice.

manaḥsāgarasaṁbhūtāṁ maharṣerbhāvitātmanaḥ

kathayasva satāṁ śreṣṭha sarvaratnamayīmimām

I was born in the ocean like mind of great Ṛṣi of purified soul. O best of men! Recite to it to me, for O son of Suta, my thirst has not been appeased by all that you have narrated!

sautiruvāca

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi mahadākhyānamuttamam

kṛṣṇadvaipāyanamataṁ mahābhāratamāditaḥ

Sauti said: I shall recite from the beginning great and excellent history called Mahābhārata, composed by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana.

śṛṇu sarvamaśeṣeṇa kathyamānaṁ mayā dvija

śaṁsituṁ tanmahārṣo mamāpīha pravartate

Listen to it in full, O Brāhmaṇa! As I recite it! I myself feel a great pleasure in reciting it.