01.00 - Preface
जयति पराशरसूनुः सत्यवतीहृदयनन्दनो व्यासः। यस्यास्यकमलकोशे वाङ्मयममृतं पिबति लोकः ॥बोरि १.१.१*॥
jayati parāśarasūnuḥ satyavatīhr̥dayanandanō vyāsaḥ। yasyāsyakamalakōśē vāṅmayamamr̥taṁ pibati lōkaḥ ॥bōri 1.1.1*॥
[जयति (jayati) - is victorious; पराशर-सूनुः (parāśara-sūnuḥ) - son of Parāśara; सत्यवती-हृदय-नन्दनः (satyavatī-hr̥daya-nandanaḥ) - delight of Satyavatī's heart; व्यासः (vyāsaḥ) - Vyāsa; यस्य (yasya) - whose; आस्य-कमल-कोशे (āsya-kamala-kōśē) - in the lotus-cup of the mouth; वाङ्मयम् (vāṅmayam) - consisting of words; अमृतम् (amr̥tam) - nectar; पिबति (pibati) - drinks; लोकः (lōkaḥ) - the world;]
Victorious is Vyāsa, son of Parāśara and delight of Satyavatī’s heart, from the lotus-cup of whose mouth the world drinks the nectar of literature. (bori 1.1.1*)
लोमहर्षणपुत्र उग्रश्रवाः सूतः पौराणिको नैमिषारण्ये शौनकस्य कुलपतेर्द्वादशवार्षिके सत्रे ॥१-००१-१॥
lomaharṣaṇaputra ugraśravāḥ sūtaḥ paurāṇiko naimiṣāraṇye śaunakasya kulapaterdvādaśavārṣike satre ॥1-001-1॥
[लोमहर्षण-पुत्र (lomaharṣaṇa-putra) - son of Lomaharṣaṇa; उग्रश्रवाः (ugraśravāḥ) - Ugraśravas; सूतः (sūtaḥ) - the Sūta; पौराणिकः (paurāṇikaḥ) - Purāṇa-reciter; नैमिषारण्ये (naimiṣāraṇye) - in Naimiṣa Forest; शौनकस्य (śaunakasya) - of Śaunaka; कुलपतेः (kulapateḥ) - of the Kulapati; द्वादश-वार्षिके (dvādaśa-vārṣike) - twelve-year; सत्रे (satre) - at the sacrificial session;]
Ugraśravas, son of Lomaharṣaṇa, the Sūta and Purāṇa-reciter, at the twelve-year sacrificial session of Śaunaka, the Kulapati, in Naimiṣa Forest… (1-001-1)
समासीनानभ्यगच्छद्ब्रह्मर्षीन्संशितव्रतान्। विनयावनतो भूत्वा कदाचित्सूतनन्दनः ॥१-००१-२॥
samāsīnānabhyagacchadbrahmarṣīnsaṁśitavratān। vinayāvanatō bhūtvā kadācitsūtanandanaḥ ॥1-001-2॥
[समासीनान् (samāsīnān) - seated; अभ्यगच्छत् (abhyagacchat) - approached; ब्रह्मर्षीन् (brahmarṣīn) - Brahmarshis; संशितव्रतान् (saṁśitavratān) - strict in their vows; विनयावनतः (vinayāvanataḥ) - bowed respectfully; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; कदाचित् (kadācit) - once; सूतनन्दनः (sūtanandanaḥ) - the Sūta's son;]
Once, the Sūta's son respectfully bowed and approached the seated Brahmarshis, who were strict in their vows. (1-001-2)
तमाश्रममनुप्राप्तं नैमिषारण्यवासिनः। चित्राः श्रोतुं कथास्तत्र परिवव्रुस्तपस्विनः ॥१-००१-३॥
tamāśramamanuprāptaṁ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ। citrāḥ śrotuṁ kathāstatra parivavrustapasvinaḥ ॥१-००१-३॥
[तम् (tam) - him; आश्रमम् (āśramam) - the hermitage; अनुप्राप्तम् (anuprāptam) - who had reached; नैमिषारण्यवासिनः (naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ) - dwelling in the Naimiṣa Forest; चित्राः (citrāḥ) - marvelous; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; कथाः (kathāḥ) - tales; तत्र (tatra) - there; परिवव्रुः (parivavruḥ) - gathered around; तपस्विनः (tapasvinaḥ) - the ascetics;]
The ascetics dwelling in the Naimiṣa Forest gathered around him when he reached the hermitage, eager to hear marvelous tales there. (1-001-3)
अभिवाद्य मुनींस्तांस्तु सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलिः।अपृच्छत्स तपोवृद्धिं सद्भिश्चैवाभिनन्दितः ॥१-००१-४॥
abhivādya munīṁstāṁstu sarvāneva kr̥tāñjaliḥ।apr̥cchatsa tapovr̥ddhiṁ sadbhiścaivābhinanditaḥ ॥1-001-4॥
[अभिवाद्य (abhivādya) - having greeted; मुनीन् (munīn) - sages; तान् (tān) - those; तु (tu) - then; सर्वान् + एव (sarvān + eva) - every one; कृताञ्जलिः (kr̥tāñjaliḥ) - with joined palms; अपृच्छत् (apr̥cchat) - asked about; स (sa) - he; तपोवृद्धिम् (tapovr̥ddhim) - progress of their austerities; सद्भिः + च + एव (sadbhiḥ + ca + eva) - and also by the holy men; अभिनन्दितः (abhinanditaḥ) - welcomed;]
Then, with joined palms, he greeted every one of those sages and asked about the progress of their austerities, while he too was welcomed by the holy men. (1-001-4)
अथ तेषूपविष्टेषु सर्वेष्वेव तपस्विषु।निर्दिष्टमासनं भेजे विनयाल्लोमहर्षणिः ॥१-००१-५॥
atha teṣūpaviṣṭeṣu sarveṣveva tapasviṣu।nirdiṣṭamāsanaṁ bheje vinayāllomaharṣaṇiḥ ॥१-००१-५॥
[अथ (atha) - then; तेषु + उपविष्टेषु (teṣu + upaviṣṭeṣu) - when they had sat down; सर्वेषु + एव (sarveṣu + eva) - all of them; तपस्विषु (tapasviṣu) - ascetics; निर्दिष्टम् (nirdiṣṭam) - assigned; आसनम् (āsanam) - seat; भेजे (bheje) - took; विनयात् (vinayāt) - respectfully; लोमहर्षणिः (lomaharṣaṇiḥ) - Lomaharṣaṇi;]
Then, when all those ascetics had sat down, Lomaharṣaṇi respectfully took the seat assigned to him. (1-001-5)
सुखासीनं ततस्तं तु विश्रान्तमुपलक्ष्य च।अथापृच्छदृषिस्तत्र कश्चित्प्रस्तावयन्कथाः ॥१-००१-६॥
sukhāsīnaṁ tatastaṁ tu viśrāntamupalakṣya ca।athāpṛcchadr̥ṣistatra kaścitprastāvayankathāḥ ॥१-००१-६॥
[सुखासीनं (sukhāsīnaṁ) - comfortably seated; ततः (tataḥ) - thereupon; तम् (tam) - him; तु (tu) - however; विश्रान्तम् (viśrāntam) - rested; उपलक्ष्य (upalakṣya) - observing; च (ca) - and; अथ (atha) - then; अपृच्छत् (apr̥cchat) - asked; ऋषिः (r̥ṣiḥ) - sage; तत्र (tatra) - there; कश्चित् (kaścit) - a certain; प्रस्तावयन् (prastāvayan) - opening; कथाः (kathāḥ) - conversation;]
Thereupon, however, seeing that he was comfortably seated and rested, a certain sage there opened a conversation and asked him: (1-001-6)
कुत आगम्यते सौते क्व चायं विहृतस्त्वया।कालः कमलपत्राक्ष शंसैतत्पृच्छतो मम ॥१-००१-७॥
kuta āgamyatē sautē kva cāyaṁ vihr̥tastvayā। kālaḥ kamalapatrākṣa śaṁsaitatpr̥cchatō mama ॥1-001-7॥
[कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; आगम्यते (āgamyatē) - have you come; सौते (sautē) - O Sauti; क्व (kva) - where; च (ca) - and; अयम् (ayam) - this; विहृतः (vihr̥taḥ) - spent; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; कालः (kālaḥ) - time; कमलपत्राक्ष (kamalapatrākṣa) - O lotus-petal-eyed one; शंस (śaṁsa) - tell; एतत् (ētat) - this; पृच्छतः (pr̥cchataḥ) - asking; मम (mama) - me;]
Where have you come from, O Sauti, and where have you spent this time? O lotus-petal-eyed one, tell me this, for I ask you. (1-001-7)
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूतः (sūtaḥ) - the Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
The Sūta said:
जनमेजयस्य राजर्षेः सर्पसत्रे महात्मनः।समीपे पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य सम्यक्पारिक्षितस्य च ॥१-००१-८॥
janamējayasya rājarṣēḥ sarpasatrē mahātmanaḥ।samīpē pārthivēndrasya samyakpārikṣitasya ca ॥1-001-8॥
[जनमेजयस्य (janamējayasya) - of Janamejaya; राजर्षेः (rājarṣēḥ) - of the royal sage; सर्पसत्रे (sarpasatrē) - at the snake sacrifice; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled; समीपे (samīpē) - in the presence; पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य (pārthivēndrasya) - of the lord of kings; सम्यक् (samyak) - duly; पारिक्षितस्य (pārikṣitasya) - of Parikṣit's son; च (ca) - and;]
At the snake sacrifice of the great-souled royal sage Janamejaya and in the presence of that lord of kings, the son of Parikṣit, duly… (1-001-8)
कृष्णद्वैपायनप्रोक्ताः सुपुण्या विविधाः कथाः।कथिताश्चापि विधिवद्या वैशम्पायनेन वै ॥१-००१-९॥
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaprōktāḥ supuṇyā vividhāḥ kathāḥ।kathitāś cāpi vidhivad yā vaiśampāyanēna vai ॥1-001-9॥
[कृष्णद्वैपायन + प्रोक्ताः (kṛṣṇadvaipāyana + prōktāḥ) - spoken by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana; सुपुण्या (supuṇyā) - highly sacred; विविधाः (vividhāḥ) - various; कथाः (kathāḥ) - tales; कथिताः + च + अपि (kathitāḥ + ca + api) - were also related; विधिवत् (vidhivat) - duly; याः (yāḥ) - which; वैशम्पायनेन (vaiśampāyanēna) - by Vaiśampāyana; वै (vai) - indeed;]
Those various, highly sacred tales spoken by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, which were indeed also duly related by Vaiśampāyana… (1-001-9)
श्रुत्वाहं ता विचित्रार्था महाभारतसंश्रिताः।बहूनि सम्परिक्रम्य तीर्थान्यायतनानि च ॥१-००१-१०॥
śrutvāhaṁ tā vicitrārthā mahābhāratasaṁśritāḥ।bahūni samparikramya tīrthānyāyatanāni ca ॥1-001-10॥
[श्रुत्वा + अहम् (śrutvā + aham) - after hearing I; ता (tā) - those stories; विचित्रार्था (vicitrārthā) - varied in content; महाभारतसंश्रिताः (mahābhāratasaṁśritāḥ) - relating to the Mahābhārata; बहूनि (bahūni) - many; सम्परिक्रम्य (samparikramya) - having traveled around; तीर्थानि + आयतनानि (tīrthāni + āyatanāni) - sacred fords and shrines; च (ca) - and;]
After hearing those stories, varied in content and relating to the Mahābhārata, and traveling around many sacred fords and shrines, I… (1-001-10)
समन्तपञ्चकं नाम पुण्यं द्विजनिषेवितम्।गतवानस्मि तं देशं युद्धं यत्राभवत्पुरा ॥१-००१-११॥
samantapañcakaṁ nāma puṇyaṁ dvijaniṣēvitam।gatavānasmi taṁ dēśaṁ yuddhaṁ yatrābhavatpurā ॥१-००१-११॥
[समन्तपञ्चकम् (samantapañcakam) - Samantapañcaka; नाम (nāma) - named; पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - sacred; द्विजनिषेवितम् (dvijaniṣēvitam) - frequented by the twice-born; गतवान् + अस्मि (gatavān + asmi) - I went; तम् (tam) - that; देशम् (dēśam) - land; युद्धम् (yuddham) - battle; यत्र + अभवत् (yatra + abhavat) - where it took place; पुरा (purā) - long ago;]
I went to that sacred land called Samantapañcaka, frequented by the twice-born, where long ago the battle took place… (1-001-11)
पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ॥१-००१-११॥
pāṇḍavānāṁ kurūṇāṁ ca sarvēṣāṁ ca mahīkṣitām ॥1-001-11॥
[पाण्डवानाम् (pāṇḍavānām) - of the Pāṇḍavas; कुरूणाम् (kurūṇām) - of the Kurus; च (ca) - and; सर्वेषाम् (sarvēṣām) - of all; च (ca) - and; महीक्षिताम् (mahīkṣitām) - kings;]
of the Pāṇḍavas and the Kurus, and of all the kings… (1-001-11)
दिदृक्षुरागतस्तस्मात्समीपं भवतामिह।आयुष्मन्तः सर्व एव ब्रह्मभूता हि मे मताः ॥१-००१-१२॥
didr̥kṣurāgatastasmātsamīpaṁ bhavatāmiha।āyuṣmantaḥ sarva ēva brahmabhūtā hi mē matāḥ ॥1-001-12॥
[दिदृक्षुः (didr̥kṣuḥ) - wishing to see you; आगतः (āgataḥ) - have come; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from there; समीपं (samīpaṁ) - into the presence; भवताम् (bhavatām) - of you; इह (iha) - here; आयुष्मन्तः (āyuṣmantaḥ) - O long-lived ones; सर्वे (sarvē) - all; एव (ēva) - every one; ब्रह्मभूताः (brahmabhūtāḥ) - having become Brahman; हि (hi) - indeed; मे (mē) - by me; मताः (matāḥ) - regarded;]
Wishing to see you, I have come from there into your presence here. Indeed, O long-lived ones, I regard every one of you as having become Brahman. (1-001-12)
अस्मिन्यज्ञे महाभागाः सूर्यपावकवर्चसः।कृताभिषेकाः शुचयः कृतजप्या हुताग्नयः ॥१-००१-१३॥
asminyajñē mahābhāgāḥ sūryapāvakavarcasaḥ।kr̥tābhiṣēkāḥ śucayaḥ kr̥tajapyā hutāgnayaḥ ॥1-001-13॥
[अस्मिन् (asmin) - at this; यज्ञे (yajñē) - sacrifice; महाभागाः (mahābhāgāḥ) - greatly fortunate ones; सूर्य-पावक-वर्चसः (sūrya-pāvaka-varcasaḥ) - radiant as the sun and fire; कृत-अभिषेकाः (kr̥ta-abhiṣēkāḥ) - having performed ritual ablutions; शुचयः (śucayaḥ) - pure; कृत-जप्याः (kr̥ta-japyāḥ) - having completed your recitations; हुत-अग्नयः (huta-agnayaḥ) - having made your fire offerings;]
At this sacrifice, O greatly fortunate ones, radiant as the sun and fire, ritually bathed and pure, having completed your recitations and made your fire offerings… (1-001-13)
भवन्त आसते स्वस्था ब्रवीमि किमहं द्विजाः ॥१-००१-१३॥
bhavanta āsate svasthā bravīmi kimahaṁ dvijāḥ ॥१-००१-१३॥
[भवन्तः (bhavantaḥ) - you; आसते (āsate) - sit; स्वस्थाः (svasthāḥ) - at ease; ब्रवीमि (bravīmi) - shall I tell; किम् (kim) - what; अहम् (aham) - I; द्विजाः (dvijāḥ) - brahmins;]
You sit here at ease. What shall I tell you, brahmins? (1-001-13)
पुराणसंश्रिताः पुण्याः कथा वा धर्मसंश्रिताः।इतिवृत्तं नरेन्द्राणामृषीणां च महात्मनाम् ॥१-००१-१४॥
purāṇasaṁśritāḥ puṇyāḥ kathā vā dharmasaṁśritāḥ।itivr̥ttaṁ narēndrāṇāmr̥ṣīṇāṁ ca mahātmanām ॥1-001-14॥
[पुराणसंश्रिताः (purāṇasaṁśritāḥ) - drawn from the Purāṇas; पुण्याः (puṇyāḥ) - sacred; कथाः (kathāḥ) - tales; वा (vā) - or; धर्मसंश्रिताः (dharmasaṁśritāḥ) - grounded in dharma; इतिवृत्तम् (itivr̥ttam) - history; नरेन्द्राणाम् (narēndrāṇām) - of kings; ऋषीणाम् (r̥ṣīṇām) - of sages; च (ca) - and; महात्मनाम् (mahātmanām) - great-souled;]
Sacred tales drawn from the Purāṇas or grounded in dharma; the history of kings and great-souled sages… (1-001-14)
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
r̥ṣaya ūcuḥ॥
[ऋषयः (r̥ṣayaḥ) - the seers; ऊचुः (ūcuḥ) - said;]
The seers said:
द्वैपायनेन यत्प्रोक्तं पुराणं परमर्षिणा।सुरैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिश्चैव श्रुत्वा यदभिपूजितम् ॥१-००१-१५॥
dvaipāyanena yatproktaṃ purāṇaṃ paramarṣiṇā।surairbrahmarṣibhiścaiva śrutvā yadabhipūjitam ॥1-001-15॥
[द्वैपायनेन (dvaipāyanena) - by Dvaipāyana; यत् + प्रोक्तम् (yat + proktam) - that was proclaimed; पुराणम् (purāṇam) - Purāṇa; परमर्षिणा (paramarṣiṇā) - by the great sage; सुरैः (suraiḥ) - by the gods; ब्रह्मर्षिभिः + च + एव (brahmarṣibhiḥ + ca + eva) - and by the Brahmarṣis themselves; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; यत् + अभिपूजितम् (yat + abhipūjitam) - that was duly honored;]
the Purāṇa that was proclaimed by Dvaipāyana, the great sage, and that the gods and Brahmarṣis, having heard it, duly honored… (1-001-15)
तस्याख्यानवरिष्ठस्य विचित्रपदपर्वणः।सूक्ष्मार्थन्याययुक्तस्य वेदार्थैर्भूषितस्य च ॥१-००१-१६॥
tasyākhyānavariṣṭhasya vicitrapadaparvaṇaḥ।sūkṣmārthanyāyayuktasya vēdārthairbhūṣitasya ca ॥१-००१-१६॥
[तस्य (tasya) - of that; आख्यानवरिष्ठस्य (ākhyānavariṣṭhasya) - of the foremost of narratives; विचित्रपदपर्वणः (vicitrapadaparvaṇaḥ) - whose words and sections are varied; सूक्ष्मार्थन्याययुक्तस्य (sūkṣmārthanyāyayuktasya) - endowed with subtle meaning and reasoning; वेदार्थैः (vēdārthaiḥ) - with the meanings of the Vedas; भूषितस्य (bhūṣitasya) - adorned; च (ca) - and;]
Of that foremost of narratives, varied in its words and sections, endowed with subtle meaning and reasoning, and adorned with the meanings of the Vedas... (1-001-16)
भारतस्येतिहासस्य पुण्यां ग्रन्थार्थसंयुताम्।संस्कारोपगतां ब्राह्मीं नानाशास्त्रोपबृंहिताम् ॥१-००१-१७॥
bhāratasyētihāsasya puṇyāṁ granthārthasaṁyutām।saṁskārōpagatāṁ brāhmīṁ nānāśāstrōpabṛṁhitām ॥1-001-17॥
[भारतस्य (bhāratasya) - of the Bhāratas; इतिहासस्य (itihāsasya) - of the history; पुण्याम् (puṇyām) - sacred; ग्रन्थार्थसंयुताम् (granthārthasaṁyutām) - containing the meaning of the work; संस्कारोपगताम् (saṁskārōpagatām) - having undergone refinement; ब्राह्मीम् (brāhmīm) - pertaining to Brahman; नानाशास्त्रोपबृंहिताम् (nānāśāstrōpabṛṁhitām) - enriched by many branches of learning;]
the sacred account of the history of the Bhāratas, containing the meaning of the work, having undergone refinement, pertaining to Brahman, and enriched by many branches of learning… (1-001-17)
जनमेजयस्य यां राज्ञो वैशम्पायन उक्तवान्।यथावत्स ऋषिस्तुष्ट्या सत्रे द्वैपायनाज्ञया ॥१-००१-१८॥
janamējayasya yāṁ rājñō vaiśampāyana uktavān।yathāvatsa r̥ṣistuṣṭyā satrē dvaipāyanājñayā ॥1-001-18॥
[जनमेजयस्य (janamējayasya) - to Janamejaya; याम् (yām) - which; राज्ञो (rājñō) - the king; वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) - Vaiśampāyana; उक्तवान् (uktavān) - recited; यथावत् + सः (yathāvat + saḥ) - accurately he; ऋषिः + तुष्ट्या (r̥ṣiḥ + tuṣṭyā) - the sage with satisfaction; सत्रे (satrē) - at the sacrificial session; द्वैपायनाज्ञया (dvaipāyanājñayā) - at Dvaipāyana's command;]
which the sage Vaiśampāyana, at Dvaipāyana’s command, accurately and gladly recited to King Janamejaya at the sacrificial session… (1-001-18)
वेदैश्चतुर्भिः समितां व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः।संहितां श्रोतुमिच्छामो धर्म्यां पापभयापहाम् ॥१-००१-१९॥
vēdaiś caturbhiḥ samitāṁ vyāsasyādbhutakarmaṇaḥ।saṁhitāṁ śrōtum icchāmō dharmyāṁ pāpabhayāpahām ॥1-001-19॥
[वेदैः (vēdaiḥ) - with the Vedas; चतुर्भिः (caturbhiḥ) - four; समिताम् (samitām) - equal; व्यासस्य (vyāsasya) - of Vyāsa; अद्भुतकर्मणः (adbhutakarmaṇaḥ) - whose deeds are wondrous; संहिताम् (saṁhitām) - compilation; श्रोतुम् (śrōtum) - to hear; इच्छामः (icchāmaḥ) - we wish; धर्म्याम् (dharmyām) - righteous; पापभयापहाम् (pāpabhayāpahām) - dispelling the fear of sin;]
We wish to hear the righteous compilation of Vyāsa, whose deeds are wondrous, equal to the four Vedas and dispelling the fear of sin. (1-001-19)
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूतः (sūtaḥ) - the Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
The Sūta said:
आद्यं पुरुषमीशानं पुरुहूतं पुरुष्टुतम्।ऋतमेकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्यक्ताव्यक्तं सनातनम् ॥१-००१-२०॥
ādyaṃ puruṣamīśānaṃ puruhūtaṃ puruṣṭutam।ṛtamekākṣaraṃ brahma vyaktāvyaktaṃ sanātanam ॥1-001-20॥
[आद्यम् (ādyam) - primordial; पुरुषम् (puruṣam) - Person; ईशानम् (īśānam) - Lord; पुरुहूतम् (puruhūtam) - much-invoked; पुरुष्टुतम् (puruṣṭutam) - much-praised; ऋतम् (ṛtam) - truth; एकाक्षरम् (ekākṣaram) - one-syllabled; ब्रह्म (brahma) - Brahman; व्यक्ताव्यक्तम् (vyaktāvyaktam) - manifest and unmanifest; सनातनम् (sanātanam) - eternal;]
the primordial Person, the Lord, much-invoked and much-praised; truth, the eternal, one-syllabled Brahman, manifest and unmanifest… (1-001-20)
असच्च सच्चैव च यद्विश्वं सदसतः परम्।परावराणां स्रष्टारं पुराणं परमव्ययम् ॥१-००१-२१॥
asac ca sac caiva ca yadviśvaṃ sadasataḥ param।parāvarāṇāṃ sraṣṭāraṃ purāṇaṃ paramavyayam ॥1-001-21॥
[असत् + च (asat + ca) - non-being and; सत् + च + एव + च (sat + ca + eva + ca) - being likewise and; यत् + विश्वम् (yat + viśvam) - who is the universe; सदसतः (sadasataḥ) - than being and non-being; परम् (param) - beyond; परावराणां (parāvarāṇāṃ) - of higher and lower beings; स्रष्टारं (sraṣṭāraṃ) - the creator; पुराणं (purāṇaṃ) - ancient; परम् (param) - supreme; अव्ययम् (avyayam) - imperishable;]
who is both non-being and being, who is the universe beyond being and non-being; the creator of higher and lower beings, ancient, supreme, and imperishable… (1-001-21)
मङ्गल्यं मङ्गलं विष्णुं वरेण्यमनघं शुचिम्।नमस्कृत्य हृषीकेशं चराचरगुरुं हरिम् ॥१-००१-२२॥
maṅgalyaṁ maṅgalaṁ viṣṇuṁ varēṇyamanaghaṁ śucim।namaskr̥tya hr̥ṣīkēśaṁ carācaraguruṁ harim ॥1-001-22॥
[मङ्गल्यं (maṅgalyaṁ) - auspiciousness; मङ्गलं (maṅgalaṁ) - blessing; विष्णुं (viṣṇuṁ) - Viṣṇu; वरेण्यम् (varēṇyam) - most excellent; अनघं (anaghaṁ) - sinless; शुचिम् (śucim) - pure; नमस्कृत्य (namaskr̥tya) - having bowed to; हृषीकेशं (hr̥ṣīkēśaṁ) - Hṛṣīkeśa; चराचरगुरुं (carācaraguruṁ) - teacher of all that moves and does not move; हरिम् (harim) - Hari;]
Having bowed to Viṣṇu, who is auspiciousness and blessing, the most excellent, sinless, and pure Hṛṣīkeśa—Hari, teacher of all that moves and does not move… (1-001-22)
महर्षेः पूजितस्येह सर्वलोके महात्मनः।प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्यामिततेजसः ॥१-००१-२३॥
maharṣēḥ pūjitasyēha sarvalōkē mahātmanaḥ।pravakṣyāmi mataṁ kr̥tsnaṁ vyāsasyāmitatējasaḥ ॥1-001-23॥
[महर्षेः (maharṣēḥ) - of the great sage; पूजितस्य (pūjitasya) - who is honored; इह (iha) - here; सर्वलोके (sarvalōkē) - throughout the whole world; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled one; प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi) - I shall declare; मतम् (matam) - thought; कृत्स्नम् (kr̥tsnam) - in full; व्यासस्य + अमिततेजसः (vyāsasya + amitatējasaḥ) - of Vyāsa of immeasurable splendor;]
I shall declare in full the thought of the great sage, the great-souled Vyāsa of immeasurable splendor, who is honored here throughout the whole world. (1-001-23)
आचख्युः कवयः केचित्सम्प्रत्याचक्षते परे।आख्यास्यन्ति तथैवान्ये इतिहासमिमं भुवि ॥१-००१-२४॥
ācakhyuḥ kavayaḥ kēcit sampratyācakṣatē parē।ākhyāsyanti tathaivānyē itihāsamimaṁ bhuvi ॥1-001-24॥
[आचख्युः (ācakhyuḥ) - have related; कवयः (kavayaḥ) - poets; केचित् (kēcit) - some; सम्प्रति (samprati) - now; आचक्षते (ācakṣatē) - are relating; परे (parē) - others; आख्यास्यन्ति (ākhyāsyanti) - will relate; तथा + एव (tathā + ēva) - likewise; अन्ये (anyē) - still others; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; इमम् (imam) - this; भुवि (bhuvi) - on earth;]
Some poets have related it; others are relating it now; and still others will likewise relate this history on earth. (1-001-24)
इदं तु त्रिषु लोकेषु महज्ज्ञानं प्रतिष्ठितम्। विस्तरैश्च समासैश्च धार्यते यद्द्विजातिभिः ॥१-००१-२५॥
idaṁ tu triṣu lokeṣu mahajjñānaṁ pratiṣṭhitam। vistaraiśca samāsaiśca dhāryate yaddvijātibhiḥ ॥१-००१-२५॥
[इदं (idaṁ) - this; तु (tu) - however; त्रिषु (triṣu) - in the three; लोकेषु (lokeṣu) - worlds; महत् (mahat) - great; ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge; प्रतिष्ठितम् (pratiṣṭhitam) - established; विस्तरैः (vistaraiḥ) - in expanded forms; च (ca) - and; समासैः (samāsaiḥ) - in condensed forms; च (ca) - and; धार्यते (dhāryate) - is preserved; यत् (yat) - which; द्विजातिभिः (dvijātibhiḥ) - by the twice-born;]
This great knowledge, however, is established in the three worlds and is preserved by the twice-born in both expanded and condensed forms. (1-001-25)
अलङ्कृतं शुभैः शब्दैः समयैर्दिव्यमानुषैः।छन्दोवृत्तैश्च विविधैरन्वितं विदुषां प्रियम् ॥१-००१-२६॥
alaṅkr̥taṁ śubhaiḥ śabdaiḥ samayairdivyamānuṣaiḥ।chandōvr̥ttaiśca vividhairanvitaṁ viduṣāṁ priyam ॥1-001-26॥
[अलङ्कृतं (alaṅkr̥taṁ) - adorned; शुभैः (śubhaiḥ) - auspicious; शब्दैः (śabdaiḥ) - words; समयैः (samayaiḥ) - conventions; दिव्य-मानुषैः (divya-mānuṣaiḥ) - divine and human; छन्दोवृत्तैः (chandōvr̥ttaiḥ) - metrical forms; च (ca) - and; विविधैः (vividhaiḥ) - various; अन्वितं (anvitaṁ) - furnished with; विदुषां (viduṣāṁ) - of the learned; प्रियम् (priyam) - dear;]
Adorned with auspicious words and conventions both divine and human, furnished with various metrical forms, and dear to the learned… (1-001-26)
पुण्ये हिमवतः पादे मेध्ये गिरिगुहालये। विशोध्य देहं धर्मात्मा दर्भसंस्तरमाश्रितः ॥कुंभ १.१.३९॥
puṇyē himavataḥ pādē mēdhyē giriguhālayē। viśōdhya dēhaṁ dharmātmā darbhasaṁstaramāśritaḥ ॥kuṁbha 1.1.39॥
[पुण्ये (puṇyē) - at the sacred; हिमवतः (himavataḥ) - of Himavat; पादे (pādē) - at the foot; मेध्ये (mēdhyē) - in a pure; गिरिगुहालये (giriguhālayē) - mountain-cave dwelling; विशोध्य (viśōdhya) - having purified; देहं (dēhaṁ) - his body; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - the righteous one; दर्भसंस्तरम् (darbhasaṁstaram) - a bed of darbha grass; आश्रितः (āśritaḥ) - having settled upon;]
At the sacred foot of Himavat, in a pure mountain-cave dwelling, the righteous one, having purified his body and settled upon a bed of darbha grass… (kumba 1.1.39)
शुचिः सनियमो व्यासः शान्तात्मातपसि स्थितः भारतस्येतिहासस्य धर्मेणान्वीक्ष्य तां गतिम् ॥कुंभ १.१.४०॥
śuciḥ saniyamō vyāsaḥ śāntātmātapasi sthitaḥ bhāratasyētihāsasya dharmēṇānvīkṣya tāṁ gatim ॥kuṁbha 1.1.40॥
[शुचिः (śuciḥ) - pure; सनियमः (saniyamaḥ) - disciplined; व्यासः (vyāsaḥ) - Vyāsa; शान्तात्मा (śāntātmā) - tranquil in mind; तपसि (tapasi) - in austerity; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - established; भारतस्य + इतिहासस्य (bhāratasya + itihāsasya) - of the history of Bharata; धर्मेण + अन्वीक्ष्य (dharmēṇa + anvīkṣya) - having contemplated in accordance with dharma; तां (tāṁ) - that; गतिम् (gatim) - course;]
Pure and disciplined, tranquil in mind and established in austerity, Vyāsa, having contemplated in accordance with dharma that course of the history of Bharata… (kumba 1.1.40)
प्रविश्य योगं ज्ञानेन सोऽपश्यत्सर्वमन्ततः ॥कुंभ १.१.४१॥
praviśya yōgaṁ jñānēna sō’paśyatsarvamantataḥ ॥kuṁbha 1.1.41॥
[प्रविश्य (praviśya) - having entered; योगं (yōgaṁ) - yogic concentration; ज्ञानेन (jñānēna) - through knowledge; सः + अपश्यत् (saḥ + apaśyat) - he saw; सर्वम् (sarvam) - everything; अन्ततः (antataḥ) - in its entirety;]
Entering yogic concentration through knowledge, he saw everything in its entirety. (kumba 1.1.41)
भूतस्थानानि सर्वाणि रहस्यं त्रिविधं च यत्।वेदयोगं सविज्ञानं धर्मोऽर्थः काम एव च ॥१-००१-४६॥
bhūtasthānāni sarvāṇi rahasyaṁ trividhaṁ ca yat।vēdayōgaṁ savijñānaṁ dharmō'rthaḥ kāma ēva ca ॥1-001-46॥
[भूत-स्थानानि (bhūta-sthānāni) - abodes of beings; सर्वाणि (sarvāṇi) - all; रहस्यम् (rahasyam) - secret; त्रिविधम् (trividham) - threefold; च (ca) - and; यत् (yat) - whatever; वेद-योगम् (vēda-yōgam) - discipline of the Veda; स-विज्ञानम् (sa-vijñānam) - together with knowledge; धर्मः + अर्थः (dharmaḥ + arthaḥ) - dharma and wealth; कामः (kāmaḥ) - pleasure; एव (ēva) - indeed; च (ca) - and;]
all the abodes of beings, whatever threefold secret there is, the discipline of the Veda together with knowledge, and indeed dharma, wealth, and pleasure… (1-001-46)
धर्मकामार्थशास्त्राणि शास्त्राणि विविधानि च।लोकयात्राविधानं च सम्भूतं दृष्टवानृषिः ॥१-००१-४७॥
dharmakāmārthaśāstrāṇi śāstrāṇi vividhāni ca।lokayātrāvidhānaṁ ca sambhūtaṁ dr̥ṣṭavānr̥ṣiḥ ॥1-001-47॥
[धर्मकामार्थशास्त्राणि (dharmakāmārthaśāstrāṇi) - treatises on dharma, desire, and wealth; शास्त्राणि (śāstrāṇi) - treatises; विविधानि (vividhāni) - various; च (ca) - and; लोकयात्राविधानं (lokayātrāvidhānaṁ) - the regulation of worldly life; च (ca) - and; सम्भूतं (sambhūtaṁ) - that had arisen; दृष्टवान् + ऋषिः (dr̥ṣṭavān + r̥ṣiḥ) - the sage saw;]
The sage saw the treatises on dharma, desire, and wealth, various treatises, and the regulation of worldly life that had arisen. (1-001-47)
इतिहासाः सवैयाख्या विविधाः श्रुतयोऽपि च।इह सर्वमनुक्रान्तमुक्तं ग्रन्थस्य लक्षणम् ॥१-००१-४८॥
itihāsāḥ savaiyākhyā vividhāḥ śrutayō’pi ca।iha sarvamanukrāntamuktaṁ granthasya lakṣaṇam ॥1-001-48॥
[इतिहासाः (itihāsāḥ) - traditional histories; सवैयाख्या (savaiyākhyā) - with explanations; विविधाः (vividhāḥ) - various; श्रुतयः + अपि (śrutayaḥ + api) - revealed texts also; च (ca) - and; इह (iha) - here; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all of this; अनुक्रान्तम् (anukrāntam) - covered; उक्तम् (uktam) - stated; ग्रन्थस्य (granthasya) - of the work; लक्षणम् (lakṣaṇam) - defining character;]
Various traditional histories with explanations, as well as revealed texts, are all covered here; the defining character of the work has been stated. (1-001-48)
विस्तीर्यैतन्महज्ज्ञानमृषिः सङ्क्षेपमब्रवीत्।इष्टं हि विदुषां लोके समासव्यासधारणम् ॥१-००१-४९॥
vistīryaitanmahajjñānamr̥ṣiḥ saṅkṣēpamabravīt।iṣṭaṁ hi viduṣāṁ lōkē samāsavyāsadhāraṇam ॥१-००१-४९॥
[विस्तीर्य (vistīrya) - having expounded at length; एतत् (etat) - this; महत् (mahat) - great; ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge; ऋषिः (r̥ṣiḥ) - the sage; सङ्क्षेपम् (saṅkṣēpam) - in summary; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - recited; इष्टं (iṣṭaṁ) - is desired; हि (hi) - indeed; विदुषां (viduṣāṁ) - by learned people; लोके (lōkē) - in the world; समास + व्यास + धारणम् (samāsa + vyāsa + dhāraṇam) - retention of both summary and detail;]
Having expounded this great knowledge at length, the sage recited it in summary; for learned people in the world wish to retain both summary and detail. (1-001-49)
मन्वादि भारतं केचिदास्तीकादि तथापरे।तथोपरिचराद्यन्ये विप्राः सम्यगधीयते ॥१-००१-५०॥
manvādi bhārataṁ kēcidāstīkādi tathāparē। tathōparicarādyanyē viprāḥ samyagadhīyatē ॥१-००१-५०॥
[मन्वादि (manvādi) - beginning with Manu; भारतं (bhārataṁ) - the Bhārata; केचित् (kēcit) - some; आस्तीकादि (āstīkādi) - beginning with Āstīka; तथा (tathā) - and; अपरे (aparē) - others; तथा (tathā) - and; उपरिचरादि (uparicarādi) - beginning with Uparicara; अन्ये (anyē) - still others; विप्राः (viprāḥ) - Brahmins; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; अधीयते (adhīyatē) - study;]
Some Brahmins properly study the Bhārata beginning with Manu, others beginning with Āstīka, and still others beginning with Uparicara. (1-001-50)
विविधं संहिताज्ञानं दीपयन्ति मनीषिणः।व्याख्यातुं कुशलाः केचिद्ग्रन्थं धारयितुं परे ॥१-००१-५१॥
vividhaṁ saṁhitājñānaṁ dīpayanti manīṣiṇaḥ।vyākhyātuṁ kuśalāḥ kēcidgranthaṁ dhārayituṁ parē ॥१-००१-५१॥
[विविधं (vividhaṁ) - diverse; संहिताज्ञानं (saṁhitājñānaṁ) - knowledge of the compendium; दीपयन्ति (dīpayanti) - elucidate; मनीषिणः (manīṣiṇaḥ) - the learned; व्याख्यातुं (vyākhyātuṁ) - to explain; कुशलाः (kuśalāḥ) - skilled; केचित् + ग्रन्थं (kēcit + granthaṁ) - some the text; धारयितुं (dhārayituṁ) - to retain in memory; परे (parē) - others;]
The learned elucidate the diverse knowledge of the compendium. Some are skilled at explaining it, while others are skilled at retaining the text in memory. (1-001-51)
तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण व्यस्य वेदं सनातनम्।इतिहासमिमं चक्रे पुण्यं सत्यवतीसुतः ॥१-००१-५२॥
tapasā brahmacaryēṇa vyasya vēdaṁ sanātanam।itihāsamimaṁ cakrē puṇyaṁ satyavatīsutaḥ ॥1-001-52॥
[तपसा (tapasā) - through austerity; ब्रह्मचर्येण (brahmacaryēṇa) - through celibacy; व्यस्य (vyasya) - having divided; वेदम् (vēdam) - the Veda; सनातनम् (sanātanam) - eternal; इतिहासम् + इमम् (itihāsam + imam) - this history; चक्रे (cakrē) - composed; पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - sacred; सत्यवतीसुतः (satyavatīsutaḥ) - Satyavatī's son;]
Through austerity and celibacy, Satyavatī’s son, having divided the eternal Veda, composed this sacred history. (1-001-52)
तदाख्यानवरिष्ठं स कृत्वा द्वैपायनः प्रभुः ॥नील १.१.५५॥
tadākhyānavariṣṭhaṁ sa kr̥tvā dvaipāyanaḥ prabhuḥ ॥nīla १.१.५५॥
[तत् (tat) - that; आख्यानवरिष्ठम् (ākhyānavariṣṭham) - finest of narratives; सः (saḥ) - he; कृत्वा (kr̥tvā) - having composed; द्वैपायनः (dvaipāyanaḥ) - Dvaipāyana; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - the lord;]
Having composed that finest of narratives, he, the lord Dvaipāyana… (nila 1.1.55)
कथमध्यापयानीह शिष्यानित्यन्वचिन्तयत्। तस्य तच्चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा ऋषेर्द्वैपायनस्य च ॥नील १.१.५६॥
kathamadhyāpayānīha śiṣyānityanvacintayat। tasya taccintitaṃ jñātvā ṛṣerdvaipāyanasya ca ॥nīla १.१.५६॥
[कथम् (katham) - how; अध्यापयानि (adhyāpayāni) - shall I teach; इह (iha) - here; शिष्यान् (śiṣyān) - pupils; इति (iti) - thus; अन्वचिन्तयत् (anvacintayat) - he pondered; तस्य (tasya) - his; तत् (tat) - that; चिन्तितम् (cintitam) - thought; ज्ञात्वा (jñātvā) - knowing; ऋषेः (ṛṣeḥ) - of the sage; द्वैपायनस्य (dvaipāyanasya) - of Dvaipāyana; च (ca) - and;]
“How shall I teach pupils here?” he pondered. And knowing that thought of the sage Dvaipāyana… (nila 1.1.56)
तत्राजगाम भगवान्ब्रह्मा लोकगुरुः स्वयम्। प्रीत्यर्थं तस्य चैवर्षेर्लोकानां हितकाम्यया ॥नील १.१.५७॥
tatrājagāma bhagavānbrahmā lōkaguruḥ svayam। prītyarthaṁ tasya caivarṣērlōkānāṁ hitakāmyayā ॥nīla 1.1.57॥
[तत्र (tatra) - there; आजगाम (ājagāma) - came; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the blessed Lord; ब्रह्मा (brahmā) - Brahmā; लोकगुरुः (lōkaguruḥ) - teacher of the worlds; स्वयम् (svayam) - himself; प्रीत्यर्थं (prītyarthaṁ) - to please; तस्य (tasya) - that; च + एव (ca + ēva) - and very; ऋषेः (r̥ṣēḥ) - sage; लोकानां (lōkānāṁ) - of the worlds; हितकाम्यया (hitakāmyayā) - from desire for their welfare;]
The blessed Lord Brahmā himself, teacher of the worlds, came there to please that very sage and out of a desire for the welfare of the worlds. (nila 1.1.57)
तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो भूत्वा प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतः स्थितः। आसनं कल्पयामास सर्वैर्मुनिगणैर्वृतः ॥नील १.१.५८॥
taṁ dr̥ṣṭvā vismitō bhūtvā prāñjaliḥ praṇataḥ sthitaḥ। āsanaṁ kalpayāmāsa sarvairmunigaṇairvr̥taḥ ॥nīla 1.1.58॥
[तम् (tam) - him; दृष्ट्वा (dr̥ṣṭvā) - seeing; विस्मितः (vismitaḥ) - astonished; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - becoming; प्राञ्जलिः (prāñjaliḥ) - with palms joined; प्रणतः (praṇataḥ) - bowed; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - stood; आसनं (āsanaṁ) - a seat; कल्पयामास (kalpayāmāsa) - prepared; सर्वैः (sarvaiḥ) - all; मुनिगणैः (munigaṇaiḥ) - hosts of sages; वृतः (vr̥taḥ) - surrounded;]
Seeing him, he stood astonished, bowed, with palms joined. Surrounded by all the hosts of sages, he prepared a seat. (nila 1.1.58)
हिरण्यगर्भमासीनं तस्मिंस्तु परमासने। परिवृत्यासनाभ्याशे वासवेयः स्थितोऽभवत् ॥नील १.१.५९॥
hiraṇyagarbhamāsīnaṁ tasmiṁstu paramāsanē। parivr̥tyāsanābhyāśē vāsavēyaḥ sthitō’bhavat ॥nīla 1.1.59॥
[हिरण्यगर्भम् (hiraṇyagarbham) - Hiraṇyagarbha; आसीनम् (āsīnam) - seated; तस्मिन् + तु (tasmin + tu) - on that indeed; परमासने (paramāsanē) - supreme seat; परिवृत्य (parivr̥tya) - having circumambulated; आसनाभ्याशे (āsanābhyāśē) - near the seat; वासवेयः (vāsavēyaḥ) - Vāsaveya; स्थितः + अभवत् (sthitaḥ + abhavat) - stood;]
After circumambulating Hiraṇyagarbha, who was seated on that supreme seat, Vāsaveya took his stand near the seat. (nila 1.1.59)
अनुज्ञातोऽथ कृष्णस्तु ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना। निषसादासनाभ्याशे प्रीयमाणः शुचिस्मितः ॥नील १.१.६०॥
anujñāto'tha kr̥ṣṇastu brahmaṇā paramēṣṭhinā। niṣasādāsanābhyāśē prīyamāṇaḥ śucismitaḥ ॥nīla 1.1.60॥
[अनुज्ञातः + अथ (anujñātaḥ + atha) - then having received permission; कृष्णः + तु (kr̥ṣṇaḥ + tu) - Kṛṣṇa in turn; ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā) - by Brahmā; परमेष्ठिना (paramēṣṭhinā) - Parameṣṭhin; निषसाद (niṣasāda) - sat down; आसनाभ्याशे (āsanābhyāśē) - near the seat; प्रीयमाणः (prīyamāṇaḥ) - delighted; शुचिस्मितः (śucismitaḥ) - smiling brightly;]
Then Kṛṣṇa, in turn, having received permission from Brahmā Parameṣṭhin, sat down near the seat, delighted and smiling brightly. (nila 1.1.60)
उवाच स महातेजा ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम्। कृतं मयेदं भगवान्काव्यं परमपूजितम् ॥नील १.१.६१॥
uvāca sa mahātējā brahmāṇaṁ paramēṣṭhinam। kr̥taṁ mayēdaṁ bhagavānkāvyaṁ paramapūjitam ॥nīla १.१.६१॥
[उवाच (uvāca) - said; स (sa) - he; महातेजाः (mahātējāḥ) - of great splendor; ब्रह्माणम् (brahmāṇam) - Brahmā; परमेष्ठिनम् (paramēṣṭhinam) - Parameṣṭhin; कृतम् (kr̥tam) - composed; मया + इदम् (mayā + idam) - this by me; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the Blessed Lord; काव्यम् (kāvyam) - poem; परमपूजितम् (paramapūjitam) - most highly revered;]
The Blessed Lord of great splendor said to Brahmā Parameṣṭhin, “I have composed this most highly revered poem.” (nila 1.1.61)
ब्रह्मन्वेदरहस्यं च यच्चान्यत्स्थापितं मया। साङ्गोपनिषदां चैव वेदानां विस्तरक्रिया ॥नील १.१.६२॥
brahmanvēdarahasyaṁ ca yaccānyatsthāpitaṁ mayā। sāṅgōpaniṣadāṁ caiva vēdānāṁ vistarakriyā ॥nīla १.१.६२॥
[ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O Brahman; वेदरहस्यम् (vēdarahasyam) - the secret of the Veda; च (ca) - and; यत् + च (yat + ca) - and whatever; अन्यत् (anyat) - else; स्थापितम् (sthāpitam) - set forth; मया (mayā) - by me; साङ्गोपनिषदां (sāṅgōpaniṣadāṁ) - together with their ancillary texts and Upaniṣads; च + एव (ca + ēva) - and also; वेदानां (vēdānāṁ) - of the Vedas; विस्तरक्रिया (vistarakriyā) - detailed exposition;]
O Brahman, the secret of the Veda and whatever else I have set forth, and the detailed exposition of the Vedas together with their ancillary texts and Upaniṣads… (nila 1.1.62)
इतिहासपुराणानामुन्मेषं निर्मितं च यत्। भूतं भव्यं भविष्यच्च त्रिविधं कालसञ्ज्ञितम् ॥नील १.१.६३॥
itihāsapurāṇānāmunmēṣaṁ nirmitaṁ ca yat। bhūtaṁ bhavyaṁ bhaviṣyacca trividhaṁ kālasañjñitam ॥nīla 1.1.63॥
[इतिहासपुराणानाम् (itihāsapurāṇānām) - of the histories and Purāṇas; उन्मेषम् (unmēṣam) - unfolding; निर्मितम् (nirmitam) - composed; च (ca) - and; यत् (yat) - whatever; भूतम् (bhūtam) - the past; भव्यम् (bhavyam) - the present; भविष्यत् (bhaviṣyat) - the future; च (ca) - and; त्रिविधम् (trividham) - threefold; कालसञ्ज्ञितम् (kālasañjñitam) - designated as time;]
the unfolding of the histories and Purāṇas and whatever was composed, as well as time in its three forms, past, present, and future… (nila 1.1.63)
जरामृत्युभयव्याधिभावाभावविनिश्चयः। विविधस्य च धर्मस्य ह्याश्रमाणां च लक्षणम् ॥नील १.१.६४॥
jarāmṛtyubhayavyādhibhāvābhāvaviniścayaḥ। vividhasya ca dharmasya hyāśramāṇāṁ ca lakṣaṇam ॥nīla 1.1.64॥
[जरा-मृत्यु-भय-व्याधि-भाव-अभाव-विनिश्चयः (jarā-mṛtyu-bhaya-vyādhi-bhāva-abhāva-viniścayaḥ) - ascertainment of old age, death, fear, disease, existence, and nonexistence; विविधस्य (vividhasya) - of the various forms; च (ca) - and; धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma; हि + आश्रमाणां (hi + āśramāṇāṁ) - indeed of the stages of life; च (ca) - and; लक्षणम् (lakṣaṇam) - defining characteristics;]
the ascertainment of old age, death, fear, disease, existence, and nonexistence; and indeed the defining characteristics both of the various forms of dharma and of the stages of life… (nila 1.1.64)
चातुर्वर्ण्यविधानं च पुराणानां च कृत्स्नशः। तपसो ब्रह्मचर्यस्य पृथिव्याश्चन्द्रसूर्ययोः ॥नील १.१.६५॥
cāturvarṇyavidhānaṁ ca purāṇānāṁ ca kr̥tsnaśaḥ। tapaso brahmacaryasya pr̥thivyāścandrasūryayoḥ ॥nīla 1.1.65॥
[चातुर्वर्ण्यविधानम् (cāturvarṇyavidhānam) - regulation of the fourfold class system; च (ca) - and; पुराणानाम् (purāṇānām) - of the Purāṇas; च (ca) - and; कृत्स्नशः (kr̥tsnaśaḥ) - in their entirety; तपसः (tapasaḥ) - of austerity; ब्रह्मचर्यस्य (brahmacaryasya) - of celibate discipline; पृथिव्याः (pr̥thivyāḥ) - of the earth; चन्द्र-सूर्ययोः (candra-sūryayoḥ) - of the moon and the sun;]
the regulation of the fourfold class system, and the Purāṇas in their entirety; of austerity, celibate discipline, the earth, the moon, and the sun… (nila 1.1.65)
ग्रहनक्षत्रताराणां प्रमाणं च युगैः सह। ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि वेदाध्यात्मं तथैव च ॥नील १.१.६६॥
grahanakṣatratārāṇāṁ pramāṇaṁ ca yugaiḥ saha। r̥co yajūṁṣi sāmāni vedādhyātmaṁ tathaiva ca ॥nīla 1.1.66॥
[ग्रह + नक्षत्र + ताराणाम् (graha + nakṣatra + tārāṇām) - of the planets, lunar mansions, and stars; प्रमाणम् (pramāṇam) - measurement; च (ca) - and; युगैः (yugaiḥ) - with the ages; सह (saha) - together; ऋचः (r̥caḥ) - Ṛgvedic verses; यजूंषि (yajūṁṣi) - Yajus formulas; सामानि (sāmāni) - Sāman chants; वेदाध्यात्मम् (vedādhyātmam) - the Veda’s teaching concerning the self; तथा + एव (tathā + eva) - likewise; च (ca) - and;]
the measurement of the planets, lunar mansions, and stars, together with the ages; the Ṛgvedic verses, Yajus formulas, Sāman chants, and likewise the Veda’s teaching concerning the self… (nila 1.1.66)
न्यायशिक्षा चिकित्सा च दानं पाशुपतं तथा। हेतुनैव समं जन्म दिव्यमानुषसञ्ज्ञितम् ॥नील १.१.६७॥
nyāyaśikṣā cikitsā ca dānaṁ pāśupataṁ tathā। hētunaiva samaṁ janma divyamānuṣasañjñitam ॥nīla 1.1.67॥
[न्यायशिक्षा (nyāyaśikṣā) - instruction in logic; चिकित्सा (cikitsā) - medicine; च (ca) - and; दानम् (dānam) - bestowal; पाशुपतम् (pāśupatam) - of the Pāśupata; तथा (tathā) - likewise; हेतुना + एव (hētunā + ēva) - with the cause itself; समम् (samam) - together; जन्म (janma) - birth; दिव्यमानुषसञ्ज्ञितम् (divyamānuṣasañjñitam) - designated divine and human;]
Instruction in logic and medicine, likewise the bestowal of the Pāśupata, and birth—designated divine and human—together with its cause... (nila 1.1.67)
तीर्थानां चैव पुण्यानां देशानां चैव कीर्तनम्। नदीनां पर्वतानां च वनानां सागरस्य च ॥नील १.१.६८॥
tīrthānāṁ caiva puṇyānāṁ dēśānāṁ caiva kīrtanam। nadīnāṁ parvatānāṁ ca vanānāṁ sāgarasya ca ॥nīla 1.1.68॥
[तीर्थानाम् (tīrthānām) - of pilgrimage sites; च + एव (ca + eva) - and also; पुण्यानाम् (puṇyānām) - holy; देशानाम् (dēśānām) - of lands; च + एव (ca + eva) - and also; कीर्तनम् (kīrtanam) - recounting; नदीनाम् (nadīnām) - of rivers; पर्वतानाम् (parvatānām) - of mountains; च (ca) - and; वनानाम् (vanānām) - of forests; सागरस्य (sāgarasya) - of the ocean; च (ca) - and;]
and also the recounting of holy pilgrimage sites and lands, of rivers and mountains, of forests and the ocean… (nila 1.1.68)
पुराणां चैव दिव्यानां कल्पानां युद्धकौशलम्। वाक्यजातिविशेषाश्च लोकयात्राक्रमश्च यः ॥नील १.१.६९॥
purāṇāṁ caiva divyānāṁ kalpānāṁ yuddhakauśalam। vākyajātiviśeṣāś ca lokayātrākramaś ca yaḥ ॥nīla 1.1.69॥
[पुराणां (purāṇāṁ) - of cities; च + एव (ca + eva) - and also; दिव्यानां (divyānāṁ) - divine; कल्पानां (kalpānāṁ) - of cosmic ages; युद्ध-कौशलम् (yuddha-kauśalam) - skill in warfare; वाक्य-जाति-विशेषाः (vākya-jāti-viśeṣāḥ) - distinctions among types of expression; च (ca) - and; लोकयात्रा-क्रमः (lokayātrā-kramaḥ) - course of worldly life; च (ca) - and; यः (yaḥ) - whatever;]
Of divine cities and cosmic ages; skill in warfare; distinctions among types of expression; and whatever the course of worldly life may be… (nila 1.1.69)
यच्चापि सर्वगं वस्तु तच्चैव प्रतिपादितम्। परं न लेखकः कश्चिदेतस्य भुवि विद्यते ॥नील १.१.७०॥
yat cāpi sarvagaṁ vastu tac caiva pratipāditam। paraṁ na lēkhakaḥ kaścid ētasya bhuvi vidyatē ॥nīla 1.1.70॥
[यत् + च + अपि (yat + ca + api) - whatever also; सर्वगम् (sarvagam) - all-pervading; वस्तु (vastu) - reality; तत् + च + एव (tat + ca + ēva) - that very thing too; प्रतिपादितम् (pratipāditam) - has been set forth; परं (paraṁ) - however; न (na) - no; लेखकः (lēkhakaḥ) - writer; कश्चित् + एतस्य (kaścit + ētasya) - any of this; भुवि (bhuvi) - on earth; विद्यते (vidyatē) - exists;]
Whatever all-pervading reality there is has also been set forth. However, no writer of this exists on earth. (nila 1.1.70)
ब्रह्मोवाच। तपोविशिष्टदपि वै विशिष्टान्मुनिसञ्चयात्। मन्ये श्रेष्ठतरं त्वां वै रहस्यज्ञानवेदनात् ॥नील १.१.७१॥
brahmōvāca। tapōviśiṣṭadapi vai viśiṣṭāt + munisañcayāt। manyē śrēṣṭhataraṁ tvāṁ vai rahasyajñānavēdanāt ॥nīla 1.1.71॥
[ब्रह्मा + उवाच (brahmā + uvāca) - Brahmā said; तपोविशिष्टद् (tapōviśiṣṭad) - distinguished by austerity; अपि (api) - even; वै (vai) - indeed; विशिष्टात् (viśiṣṭāt) - than the eminent; मुनिसञ्चयात् (munisañcayāt) - assembly of sages; मन्ये (manyē) - I consider; श्रेष्ठतरम् (śrēṣṭhataram) - superior; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; वै (vai) - indeed; रहस्यज्ञानवेदनात् (rahasyajñānavēdanāt) - because of comprehension of secret knowledge;]
Brahmā said: “Indeed, because of your comprehension of secret knowledge, I consider you superior even to the eminent assembly of sages distinguished by austerity.” (nila 1.1.71)
जन्मप्रभृति सत्यां ते वेद्मि गां ब्रह्मवादिनीम्। त्वया च काव्यमित्युक्तं तस्मात्काव्यं भविष्यति ॥नील १.१.७२॥
janmaprabhr̥ti satyāṁ te vedmi gāṁ brahmavādinīm। tvayā ca kāvyamityuktaṁ tasmātkāvyaṁ bhaviṣyati ॥nīla 1.1.72॥
[जन्मप्रभृति (janmaprabhr̥ti) - from birth onward; सत्याम् (satyām) - truthful; ते (te) - your; वेद्मि (vedmi) - I know; गाम् (gām) - speech; ब्रह्मवादिनीम् (brahmavādinīm) - speaking of Brahman; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; च (ca) - and; काव्यम् + इति + उक्तम् (kāvyam + iti + uktam) - has been called a poem; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; काव्यम् (kāvyam) - a poem; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be;]
From your very birth, I have known your speech to be truthful and to speak of Brahman. And since you have called it a poem, it will therefore be a poem. (nila 1.1.72)
अस्य काव्यस्य कवयो न समर्था विशेषणे। विशेषणे गृहस्थस्य शेषास्त्रय इवाश्रमाः ॥नील १.१.७३॥
asya kāvyasya kavayō na samarthā viśēṣaṇē। viśēṣaṇē gr̥hasthasya śēṣāstraya ivāśramāḥ ॥nīla १.१.७३॥
[अस्य (asya) - this; काव्यस्य (kāvyasya) - poem; कवयः (kavayaḥ) - poets; न (na) - not; समर्थाः (samarthāḥ) - capable; विशेषणे (viśēṣaṇē) - of surpassing; विशेषणे (viśēṣaṇē) - of surpassing; गृहस्थस्य (gr̥hasthasya) - the householder; शेषाः + त्रयः (śēṣāḥ + trayaḥ) - the remaining three; इव (iva) - just as; आश्रमाः (āśramāḥ) - āśramas;]
Poets are incapable of surpassing this poem, just as the remaining three āśramas are incapable of surpassing the householder’s. (nila 1.1.73)
काव्यस्य लेखनार्थाय गणेशः स्मर्यतां मुने। सौतिरुवाच। एवमाभाष्य तं ब्रह्मा जगाम स्वं निवेशनम् ॥नील १.१.७४॥
kāvyasya lēkhanārthāya gaṇēśaḥ smaryatāṁ munē। sautiruvāca। ēvamābhāṣya taṁ brahmā jagāma svaṁ nivēśanam ॥nīla 1.1.74॥
[काव्यस्य (kāvyasya) - of the poem; लेखनार्थाय (lēkhanārthāya) - for the purpose of writing; गणेशः (gaṇēśaḥ) - Gaṇeśa; स्मर्यताम् (smaryatām) - let him be remembered; मुने (munē) - O sage; सौतिः + उवाच (sautiḥ + uvāca) - Sauti said; एवम् + आभाष्य (ēvam + ābhāṣya) - having addressed thus; तम् (tam) - him; ब्रह्मा (brahmā) - Brahmā; जगाम (jagāma) - went; स्वम् (svam) - his own; निवेशनम् (nivēśanam) - dwelling;]
“Let Gaṇeśa be remembered for the writing of the poem, O sage.” Sauti said: Having thus addressed him, Brahmā went to his own dwelling. (nila 1.1.74)
ततः सस्मार हेरम्बं व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः। स्मृतमात्रो गणेशानो भक्तचिन्तितपूरकः ॥नील १.१.७५॥
tataḥ sasmāra hērambaṁ vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ। smr̥tamātrō gaṇēśānō bhaktacintitapūrakaḥ ॥nīla 1.1.75॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; सस्मार (sasmāra) - remembered; हेरम्बं (hērambaṁ) - Heramba; व्यासः (vyāsaḥ) - Vyāsa; सत्यवतीसुतः (satyavatīsutaḥ) - Satyavatī's son; स्मृतमात्रः (smr̥tamātraḥ) - as soon as he was remembered; गणेशानः (gaṇēśānaḥ) - Gaṇeśāna; भक्तचिन्तितपूरकः (bhaktacintitapūrakaḥ) - fulfiller of devotees' wishes;]
Then Vyāsa, Satyavatī’s son, remembered Heramba—Gaṇeśāna, the fulfiller of his devotees’ wishes, who, the moment he was remembered... (nila 1.1.75)
तत्राजगाम विघ्नेशो वेदव्यासो यतः स्थितः। पूजितश्चोपविष्टश्च व्यासेनोक्तस्तदाऽनघ ॥
tatrājagāma vighnēśō vēdavyāsō yataḥ sthitaḥ। pūjitaścōpaviṣṭaśca vyāsēnōktastadā’nagha ॥
[तत्र + आजगाम (tatra + ājagāma) - came there; विघ्नेशः (vighnēśaḥ) - Vighneśa; वेदव्यासः (vēdavyāsaḥ) - Vedavyāsa; यतः (yataḥ) - where; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - was staying; पूजितः (pūjitaḥ) - honored; च (ca) - and; उपविष्टः (upaviṣṭaḥ) - having taken a seat; च (ca) - and; व्यासेन (vyāsēna) - by Vyāsa; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - addressed; तदा (tadā) - then; अनघ (anagha) - O blameless one;]
Vighneśa came to the place where Vedavyāsa was staying. After being honored and taking a seat, he was then addressed by Vyāsa, O blameless one:
लेखको भारतस्यास्य भव त्वं गणनायक। मयैव प्रोच्यमानस्य मनसा कल्पितस्य च ॥नील १.१.७७॥
lēkhakō bhāratasyāsya bhava tvaṁ gaṇanāyaka। mayaiva prōcyamānasya manasā kalpitasya ca ॥nīla 1.1.77॥
[लेखकः (lēkhakaḥ) - scribe; भारतस्य + अस्य (bhāratasya + asya) - of this Bhārata; भव (bhava) - be; त्वम् (tvam) - you; गणनायक (gaṇanāyaka) - O Lord of the Gaṇas; मया + एव (mayā + ēva) - by me myself; प्रोच्यमानस्य (prōcyamānasya) - being recited; मनसा (manasā) - in the mind; कल्पितस्य (kalpitasya) - conceived; च (ca) - and;]
Be the scribe of this Bhārata, O Lord of the Gaṇas, as I myself recite what I have conceived in my mind. (nila 1.1.77)
श्रुत्वैतत्प्राह विघ्नेशो यदि मे लेखनी क्षणम्। लिखतो नावतिष्ठेत तदा स्यां लेखको ह्यहम् ॥नील १.१.७८॥
śrutvaitatprāha vighnēśō yadi mē lēkhanī kṣaṇam। likhatō nāvatiṣṭhēta tadā syāṁ lēkhakō hyaham ॥nīla 1.1.78॥
[श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; एतत् (ētat) - this; प्राह (prāha) - said; विघ्नेशः (vighnēśaḥ) - Vighneśa; यदि (yadi) - if; मे (mē) - my; लेखनी (lēkhanī) - pen; क्षणम् (kṣaṇam) - for a moment; लिखतः (likhataḥ) - while I am writing; न (na) - not; अवतिष्ठेत (avatiṣṭhēta) - should stop; तदा (tadā) - then; स्याम् (syām) - I shall be; लेखकः (lēkhakaḥ) - scribe; हि (hi) - indeed; अहम् (aham) - I;]
On hearing this, Vighneśa said, “If my pen does not stop even for a moment while I am writing, then I shall indeed be the scribe.” (nila 1.1.78)
व्यासोऽप्युवाच तं देवमबुद्ध्वा मा लिख क्वचित्। ओमित्युक्त्वा गणेशोऽपि बभूव किल लेखकः ॥नील १.१.७९॥
vyāsō'pyuvāca taṁ dēvamabuddhvā mā likha kvacit। ōmityuktvā gaṇēśō'pi babhūva kila lēkhakaḥ ॥nīla 1.1.79॥
[व्यासः + अपि (vyāsaḥ + api) - Vyāsa in turn; उवाच (uvāca) - said; तम् (tam) - to that; देवम् (dēvam) - god; अबुद्ध्वा (abuddhvā) - without understanding; मा (mā) - do not; लिख (likha) - write; क्वचित् (kvacit) - anything; ओम् + इति + उक्त्वा (ōm + iti + uktvā) - having said Om; गणेशः + अपि (gaṇēśaḥ + api) - Gaṇeśa too; बभूव (babhūva) - became; किल (kila) - it is said; लेखकः (lēkhakaḥ) - the scribe;]
Vyāsa in turn said to that god, “Do not write anything without understanding it.” Having said “Om,” Gaṇeśa too is said to have become the scribe. (nila 1.1.79)
ग्रन्थग्रन्थिं तदा चक्रे मुनिर्गूढं कुतूहलात्। यस्मिन्प्रतिज्ञया प्राह मुनिर्द्वैपायनस्त्विदम् ॥नील १.१.८०॥
granthagranthiṁ tadā cakrē munirgūḍhaṁ kutūhalāt। yasminpratijñayā prāha munirdvaipāyanastvidam ॥nīla 1.1.80॥
[ग्रन्थग्रन्थिं (granthagranthiṃ) - a knot in the text; तदा (tadā) - then; चक्रे (cakre) - fashioned; मुनिः (muniḥ) - the sage; गूढं (gūḍhaṃ) - obscure; कुतूहलात् (kutūhalāt) - out of curiosity; यस्मिन् (yasmin) - concerning which; प्रतिज्ञया (pratijñayā) - as a declaration; प्राह (prāha) - said; मुनिः (muniḥ) - the sage; द्वैपायनः (dvaipāyanaḥ) - Dvaipāyana; तु (tu) - and; इदम् (idam) - this;]
Then, out of curiosity, the sage fashioned an obscure knot in the text; and concerning it, the sage Dvaipāyana made this declaration: (nila 1.1.80)
अष्टौ श्लोकसहस्राणि अष्टौ श्लोकशतानि च। अहं वेद्मि शुको वेत्ति सञ्जयो वेत्ति वा न वा ॥नील १.१.८१॥
aṣṭau ślōkasahasrāṇi aṣṭau ślōkaśatāni ca। ahaṁ vēdmi śukō vētti sañjayō vētti vā na vā ॥nīla 1.1.81॥
[अष्टौ (aṣṭau) - eight; श्लोकसहस्राणि (ślōkasahasrāṇi) - thousands of verses; अष्टौ (aṣṭau) - eight; श्लोकशतानि (ślōkaśatāni) - hundreds of verses; च (ca) - and; अहम् (aham) - I; वेद्मि (vēdmi) - know; शुकः (śukaḥ) - Śuka; वेत्ति (vētti) - knows; सञ्जयः (sañjayaḥ) - Sañjaya; वेत्ति (vētti) - knows; वा (vā) - perhaps; न (na) - not; वा (vā) - perhaps;]
I know eight thousand eight hundred verses; Śuka knows them, and Sañjaya may or may not know them. (nila 1.1.81)
तच्छ्लोककूटमद्यापि ग्रथितं सुदृढं मुने। भेत्तुं न शक्यतेऽर्थस्य गूढत्वात्प्रश्रितस्य च ॥नील १.१.८२॥
tacchlōkakūṭamadyāpi grathitaṁ sudr̥ḍhaṁ munē। bhēttuṁ na śakyatē'rthasya gūḍhatvātpraśritasya ca ॥nīla 1.1.82॥
[तत् + श्लोककूटम् (tat + ślōkakūṭam) - that knot of verses; अद्य + अपि (adya + api) - even today; ग्रथितं (grathitaṁ) - tied; सुदृढं (sudr̥ḍhaṁ) - very tightly; मुने (munē) - sage; भेत्तुं (bhēttuṁ) - to unravel; न (na) - not; शक्यते (śakyatē) - can be; अर्थस्य (arthasya) - of its meaning; गूढत्वात् (gūḍhatvāt) - because of obscurity; प्रश्रितस्य (praśritasya) - profound; च (ca) - and;]
That knot of verses remains tightly tied even today, sage; it cannot be unraveled because its meaning is obscure and profound. (nila 1.1.82)
सर्वज्ञोपि गणेशो यत्क्षणमास्ते विचारयन्। तावच्चकार व्यासोपि श्लोकानन्यान्बहूनपि ॥नील १.१.८३॥
sarvajñōpi gaṇēśō yatkṣaṇamāstē vicārayan। tāvaccakāra vyāsōpi ślōkānanyānbahūnapi ॥nīla 1.1.83॥
[सर्वज्ञः + अपि (sarvajñaḥ + api) - though omniscient; गणेशो (gaṇēśō) - Gaṇeśa; यत्-क्षणम् (yat-kṣaṇam) - for as long as; आस्ते (āstē) - remained; विचारयन् (vicārayan) - pondering; तावत् (tāvat) - during that time; चकार (cakāra) - composed; व्यासः + अपि (vyāsaḥ + api) - Vyāsa for his part; श्लोकान् (ślōkān) - verses; अन्यान् (anyān) - other; बहून् + अपि (bahūn + api) - very many;]
While even the omniscient Gaṇeśa remained pondering, Vyāsa, for his part, composed many other verses during that time. (nila 1.1.83)
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य लोकस्य तु विचेष्टतः। ज्ञानाञ्जनशालाकाभिः नेत्रोऽन्मीलनकारकम् ॥नील १.१.८४॥
ajñānatimirāndhasya lōkasya tu vicēṣṭataḥ। jñānāñjanaśālākābhiḥ nētrō'nmīlanakārakam ॥nīla 1.1.84॥
[अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य (ajñānatimirāndhasya) - blinded by the darkness of ignorance; लोकस्य (lōkasya) - of the world; तु (tu) - yet; विचेष्टतः (vicēṣṭataḥ) - struggling about; ज्ञानाञ्जनशालाकाभिः (jñānāñjanaśālākābhiḥ) - with applicators of the collyrium of knowledge; नेत्रोऽन्मीलनकारकम् (nētrō'nmīlanakārakam) - causing the eyes to open;]
causing the eyes of the world, blinded by the darkness of ignorance yet struggling about, to open with applicators of the collyrium of knowledge… (nila 1.1.84)
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षार्थैः समासव्यासकीर्तनैः। तथा भारतसूर्येण नृणां विनिहतं तमः ॥नील १.१.८५॥
dharmārthakāmamōkṣārthaiḥ samāsavyāsakīrtanaiḥ। tathā bhāratasūryēṇa nr̥ṇāṁ vinihataṁ tamaḥ ॥nīla १.१.८५॥
[धर्म + अर्थ + काम + मोक्ष + अर्थैः (dharma + artha + kāma + mōkṣa + arthaiḥ) - through accounts of righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation; समास + व्यास + कीर्तनैः (samāsa + vyāsa + kīrtanaiḥ) - through concise and detailed expositions; तथा (tathā) - thus; भारत + सूर्येण (bhārata + sūryēṇa) - by the sun that is the Bhārata; नृणां (nr̥ṇāṁ) - of men; विनिहतं (vinihataṁ) - was dispelled; तमः (tamaḥ) - darkness;]
Thus, through concise and detailed accounts of righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation, the darkness of men was dispelled by the sun that is the Bhārata. (nila 1.1.85)
पुराणपूर्णचन्द्रेण श्रुतिज्योत्स्नाः प्रकाशिताः। नृबुद्धिकौरवाणां च कृतमेतत्प्रकाशनम् ॥नील १.१.८६॥
purāṇapūrṇacandrēṇa śrutijyōtsnāḥ prakāśitāḥ। nṛbuddhikauravāṇāṁ ca kr̥tamētatprakāśanam ॥nīla 1.1.86॥
[पुराण + पूर्णचन्द्रेण (purāṇa + pūrṇacandrēṇa) - by the full moon of the Purāṇa; श्रुति + ज्योत्स्नाः (śruti + jyōtsnāḥ) - moonbeams of revelation; प्रकाशिताः (prakāśitāḥ) - were illuminated; नृबुद्धि + कौरवाणाम् (nṛbuddhi + kauravāṇām) - of the Kauravas of human intellect; च (ca) - and; कृतम् + एतत् (kr̥tam + ētat) - this was effected; प्रकाशनम् (prakāśanam) - illumination;]
By the full moon of the Purāṇa, the moonbeams of revelation were illuminated, and this illumination of the Kauravas of human intellect was effected. (nila 1.1.86)
इतिहासप्रदीपेन मोहावरणघातिना। लोकगर्भगृहं कृत्स्नं यथावत्सम्प्रकाशितम् ॥नील १.१.८७॥
itihāsapradīpēna mōhāvaraṇaghātinā। lōkagarbhagr̥haṁ kr̥tsnaṁ yathāvatsamprakāśitam ॥nīla 1.1.87॥
[इतिहासप्रदीपेन (itihāsapradīpēna) - by the lamp of history; मोहावरणघातिना (mōhāvaraṇaghātinā) - destroying the veil of delusion; लोकगर्भगृहम् (lōkagarbhagr̥ham) - the inner chamber of the world; कृत्स्नम् (kr̥tsnam) - entire; यथावत् (yathāvat) - as it truly is; सम्प्रकाशितम् (samprakāśitam) - fully illuminated;]
By the lamp of history, which destroys the veil of delusion, the entire inner chamber of the world was fully illuminated as it truly is. (nila 1.1.87)
जनमेजयेन पृष्टः सन्ब्राह्मणैश्च सहस्रशः।शशास शिष्यमासीनं वैशम्पायनमन्तिके ॥१-००१-५७॥
janamējayēna pr̥ṣṭaḥ sanbrāhmaṇaiśca sahasraśaḥ।śaśāsa śiṣyamāsīnaṁ vaiśampāyanamantikē ॥1-001-57॥
[जनमेजयेन (janamējayēna) - by Janamejaya; पृष्टः (pr̥ṣṭaḥ) - asked; सन् (san) - being; ब्राह्मणैः + च (brāhmaṇaiḥ + ca) - and by Brahmins; सहस्रशः (sahasraśaḥ) - in their thousands; शशास (śaśāsa) - instructed; शिष्यम् (śiṣyam) - the disciple; आसीनम् (āsīnam) - seated; वैशम्पायनम् (vaiśampāyanam) - Vaiśampāyana; अन्तिके (antikē) - nearby;]
When asked by Janamejaya and by Brahmins in their thousands, he instructed the disciple Vaiśampāyana, who was seated nearby. (1-001-57)
स सदस्यैः सहासीनः श्रावयामास भारतम्।कर्मान्तरेषु यज्ञस्य चोद्यमानः पुनः पुनः ॥१-००१-५८॥
sa sadasyaiḥ sahāsīnaḥ śrāvayāmāsa bhāratam।karmāntarēṣu yajñasya cōdyamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ ॥1-001-58॥
[स (sa) - he; सदस्यैः (sadasyaiḥ) - with the officiants; सह + आसीनः (saha + āsīnaḥ) - seated together; श्रावयामास (śrāvayāmāsa) - recited; भारतम् (bhāratam) - the Bhārata; कर्म + अन्तरेषु (karma + antarēṣu) - during intervals in the rites; यज्ञस्य (yajñasya) - of the sacrifice; चोद्यमानः (cōdyamānaḥ) - being urged; पुनः पुनः (punaḥ punaḥ) - again and again;]
Seated together with the officiants, he recited the Bhārata, repeatedly urged to do so during intervals in the rites of the sacrifice. (1-001-58)
चतुर्विंशतिसाहस्रीं चक्रे भारतसंहिताम्। उपाख्यानैर्विना तावद्भारतं प्रोच्यते बुधैः ॥१-००१-६१॥
caturviṁśatisāhasrīṁ cakrē bhāratasaṁhitām। upākhyānairvinā tāvadbhārataṁ prōcyatē budhaiḥ ॥१-००१-६१॥
[चतुर्विंशतिसाहस्रीम् (caturviṁśatisāhasrīm) - consisting of twenty-four thousand; चक्रे (cakrē) - he composed; भारतसंहिताम् (bhāratasaṁhitām) - the Bharata compilation; उपाख्यानैः + विना (upākhyānaiḥ + vinā) - without subsidiary tales; तावत् (tāvat) - to that extent; भारतम् (bhāratam) - the Bharata; प्रोच्यते (prōcyatē) - is said to be; बुधैः (budhaiḥ) - by the learned;]
He composed the Bharata compilation in twenty-four thousand verses; without the subsidiary tales, the learned say that the Bharata is of that extent. (1-001-61)
इदं शतसहस्रं तु श्लोकानां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। उपाख्यानैः सह ज्ञेयं श्राव्यं भारतमुत्तमम् ॥कुंभ १.१.७७॥
idaṁ śatasahasraṁ tu ślōkānāṁ puṇyakarmaṇām। upākhyānaiḥ saha jñēyaṁ śrāvyaṁ bhāratamuttamam ॥kuṁbha 1.1.77॥
[इदं (idaṁ) - this; शतसहस्रं (śatasahasraṁ) - one hundred thousand; तु (tu) - but; श्लोकानां (ślōkānāṁ) - of verses; पुण्यकर्मणाम् (puṇyakarmaṇām) - merit-conferring; उपाख्यानैः (upākhyānaiḥ) - with subsidiary tales; सह (saha) - together with; ज्ञेयं (jñēyaṁ) - to be known; श्राव्यं (śrāvyaṁ) - to be recited; भारतम् (bhāratam) - Bhārata; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - excellent;]
But this excellent Bhārata, consisting of one hundred thousand merit-conferring verses together with the subsidiary tales, should be known and recited. (kumba 1.1.77)
षष्टिं शतसहस्राणि चकारान्यां स संहिताम् ॥नील १.१.१०५॥
ṣaṣṭiṁ śatasahasrāṇi cakārānyāṁ sa saṁhitām ॥nīla १.१.१०५॥
[षष्टिं (ṣaṣṭiṁ) - sixty; शतसहस्राणि (śatasahasrāṇi) - hundred-thousands; चकार + अन्याम् (cakāra + anyām) - composed another; स (sa) - he; संहिताम् (saṁhitām) - collection;]
He composed another collection of six million verses. (nila 1.1.105)
त्रिंशच्छतसहस्रं च देवलोके प्रतिष्ठितम्। पित्र्ये पञ्चदश प्रोक्तं गन्धर्वेषु चतुर्दश ॥नील १.१.१०६॥
triṁśacchatasahasraṁ ca dēvalōkē pratiṣṭhitam। pitryē pañcadaśa prōktaṁ gandharvēṣu caturdaśa ॥nīla 1.1.106॥
[त्रिंशत् (triṁśat) - thirty; शतसहस्रम् (śatasahasram) - hundred thousand; च (ca) - and; देवलोके (dēvalōkē) - in the world of the gods; प्रतिष्ठितम् (pratiṣṭhitam) - established; पित्र्ये (pitryē) - in the ancestral realm; पञ्चदश (pañcadaśa) - fifteen; प्रोक्तम् (prōktam) - declared; गन्धर्वेषु (gandharvēṣu) - among the Gandharvas; चतुर्दश (caturdaśa) - fourteen;]
Thirty hundred-thousands were established in the world of the gods; fifteen were declared in the ancestral realm, and fourteen among the Gandharvas. (nila 1.1.106)
एकं शतसहस्रं तु मानुषेषु प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥नील १.१.१०७॥
ēkaṁ śatasahasraṁ tu mānuṣēṣu pratiṣṭhitam ॥nīla 1.1.107॥
[एकम् (ēkam) - one; शतसहस्रम् (śatasahasram) - hundred thousand; तु (tu) - but; मानुषेषु (mānuṣēṣu) - among humans; प्रतिष्ठितम् (pratiṣṭhitam) - established;]
But one hundred thousand is established among humans. (nila 1.1.107)
अस्मिंस्तु मानुषे लोके वैशम्पायन उक्तवान्। शिष्यो व्यासस्य धर्मात्मा सर्ववेदविदां वरः ॥कुंभ १.१.१२६॥
asmiṁstu mānuṣē lōkē vaiśampāyana uktavān। śiṣyō vyāsasya dharmātmā sarvavēdavidāṁ varaḥ ॥kuṁbha 1.1.126॥
[अस्मिन् + तु (asmin + tu) - in this indeed; मानुषे (mānuṣē) - human; लोके (lōkē) - world; वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) - Vaiśampāyana; उक्तवान् (uktavān) - related it; शिष्यः (śiṣyaḥ) - disciple; व्यासस्य (vyāsasya) - of Vyāsa; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - righteous; सर्ववेदविदां (sarvavēdavidāṁ) - among those who know all the Vedas; वरः (varaḥ) - foremost;]
In this human world, Vaiśampāyana, Vyāsa’s righteous disciple and the foremost among those who know all the Vedas, related it. (kumba 1.1.126)
एकं शतसहस्रं तु मयोक्तं वै निबोधत ॥कुंभ १.१.१२७॥
ēkaṁ śatasahasraṁ tu mayōktaṁ vai nibōdhata ॥kumbha 1.1.127॥
[एकं (ēkaṁ) - one; शतसहस्रं (śatasahasraṁ) - one hundred thousand; तु (tu) - then; मया + उक्तं (mayā + uktaṁ) - spoken by me; वै (vai) - indeed; निबोधत (nibōdhata) - know;]
Know, then, that I have indeed recited one hundred thousand. (kumba 1.1.127)
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूतः (sūtaḥ) - the Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
The Sūta said:
लोकानां च हितार्थाय कारुण्यान्मुनिसत्तमः ॥कुंभ १.१.२७९॥
lōkānāṁ ca hitārthāya kāruṇyānmunisattamaḥ ॥kumbha 1.1.279॥
[लोकानाम् (lōkānām) - of the worlds; च (ca) - and; हितार्थाय (hitārthāya) - for the welfare; कारुण्यात् (kāruṇyāt) - out of compassion; मुनिसत्तमः (munisattamaḥ) - the foremost of sages;]
For the welfare of the worlds and out of compassion, the foremost of sages… (kumba 1.1.279)
अत्र उपनिषदं पुण्याम् कृष्णद्वैपायनः अब्रवीत्। भारत-अध्ययनात् पुण्यात् अपि पादम् अधीयतः ॥१-००१-१९१॥
atra upaniṣadaṁ puṇyām kr̥ṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ abravīt। bhārata-adhyayanāt puṇyāt api pādam adhīyataḥ ॥1-001-191॥
[अत्र (atra) - here; उपनिषदं (upaniṣadaṁ) - secret teaching; पुण्याम् (puṇyām) - sacred; कृष्णद्वैपायनः (kr̥ṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ) - Kr̥ṣṇadvaipāyana; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - declared; भारत-अध्ययनात् (bhārata-adhyayanāt) - from the study of the Bhārata; पुण्यात् (puṇyāt) - sacred; अपि (api) - even; पादम् (pādam) - a quarter; अधीयतः (adhīyataḥ) - of one studying;]
Here Kr̥ṣṇadvaipāyana declared a sacred secret teaching; of one who studies even a quarter from the sacred study of the Bhārata… (1-001-191)
यः च इमं शृणुयात् नित्यम्; आर्षं श्रद्धा-समन्वितः। सः दीर्घम् आयुः कीर्तिं च; स्वर्ग-गतिम् च आप्नुयात् नरः ॥१-००१-२०७॥
yaḥ ca imaṁ śṛṇuyāt nityam; ārṣaṁ śraddhā-samanvitaḥ। saḥ dīrgham āyuḥ kīrtiṁ ca; svarga-gatim ca āpnuyāt naraḥ ॥1-001-207॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; इमं (imaṁ) - this; शृणुयात् (śṛṇuyāt) - should hear; नित्यम् (nityam) - daily; आर्षं (ārṣaṁ) - work of the seers; श्रद्धा-समन्वितः (śraddhā-samanvitaḥ) - endowed with faith; सः (saḥ) - he; दीर्घम् (dīrgham) - long; आयुः (āyuḥ) - life; कीर्तिं (kīrtiṁ) - fame; च (ca) - and; स्वर्ग-गतिम् (svarga-gatim) - passage to heaven; च (ca) - and; आप्नुयात् (āpnuyāt) - would attain; नरः (naraḥ) - the man;]
The man who, endowed with faith, listens daily to this work of the seers would attain long life, fame, and passage to heaven. (1-001-207)
चत्वारः एकतः वेदाः; भारतम् च एकम् एकतः। समागतैः सुरर्षिभिः; तुलाम् आरोपितं पुरा ॥१-००१-२०८॥
catvāraḥ ekataḥ vedāḥ; bhāratam ca ekam ekataḥ। samāgataiḥ surarṣibhiḥ; tulām āropitaṁ purā ॥1-001-208॥
[चत्वारः (catvāraḥ) - four; एकतः (ekataḥ) - on one side; वेदाः (vedāḥ) - Vedas; भारतम् (bhāratam) - Bhārata; च (ca) - and; एकम् (ekam) - the single one; एकतः (ekataḥ) - on the other side; समागतैः (samāgataiḥ) - assembled; सुरर्षिभिः (surarṣibhiḥ) - by the divine seers; तुलाम् (tulām) - onto a balance; आरोपितं (āropitaṁ) - was placed; पुरा (purā) - long ago;]
Long ago, with the four Vedas on one side, the assembled divine seers placed the single Bhārata on the other side of a balance. (1-001-208)
महत्त्वे च गुरुत्वे च; ध्रियमाणं ततः अधिकम् ॥१-००१-२०८॥
mahattvē ca gurutvē ca; dhriyamāṇaṁ tataḥ adhikam ॥1-001-208॥
[महत्त्वे (mahattvē) - in magnitude; च (ca) - both; गुरुत्वे (gurutvē) - in weight; च (ca) - and; ध्रियमाणं (dhriyamāṇaṁ) - being weighed; ततः (tataḥ) - than that; अधिकम् (adhikam) - greater;]
When weighed, greater than that in both magnitude and weight. (1-001-208)
महत्त्वात् भारवत्त्वात् च; महाभारतम् उच्यते। निरुक्तम् अस्य यः वेद; सर्व-पापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥१-००१-२०९॥
mahattvāt bhāravattvāt ca; mahābhāratam ucyate। niruktam asya yaḥ veda; sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate ॥1-001-209॥
[महत्त्वात् (mahattvāt) - because of greatness; भारवत्त्वात् (bhāravattvāt) - because of weightiness; च (ca) - and; महाभारतम् (mahābhāratam) - Mahābhārata; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called; निरुक्तम् (niruktam) - derivation of the name; अस्य (asya) - of it; यः (yaḥ) - whoever; वेद (veda) - knows; सर्व-पापैः (sarva-pāpaiḥ) - from all sins; प्रमुच्यते (pramucyate) - is freed;]
Because of its greatness and weightiness, it is called the Mahābhārata. Whoever knows this derivation of its name is freed from all sins. (1-001-209)
तपः न कल्कः अध्ययनं न कल्कः। स्वाभाविकः वेदविधिः न कल्कः। प्रसह्य वित्त-ाहरणं न कल्कः; तानि एव भाव-उपहतानि कल्कः ॥१-००१-२१०॥
tapaḥ na kalkaḥ adhyayanaṁ na kalkaḥ। svābhāvikaḥ vēdavidhiḥ na kalkaḥ। prasahya vitta-āharaṇaṁ na kalkaḥ; tāni ēva bhāva-upahatāni kalkaḥ ॥1-001-210॥
[तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; न (na) - not; कल्कः (kalkaḥ) - sin; अध्ययनं (adhyayanaṁ) - study; न (na) - not; कल्कः (kalkaḥ) - sin; स्वाभाविकः (svābhāvikaḥ) - natural; वेदविधिः (vēdavidhiḥ) - Vedic ordinance; न (na) - not; कल्कः (kalkaḥ) - sin; प्रसह्य (prasahya) - forcibly; वित्त-ाहरणं (vitta-āharaṇaṁ) - taking of wealth; न (na) - not; कल्कः (kalkaḥ) - sin; तानि (tāni) - those things; एव (ēva) - very; भाव-उपहतानि (bhāva-upahatāni) - tainted by motive; कल्कः (kalkaḥ) - sin;]
Austerity is not sin; study is not sin. The natural Vedic ordinance is not sin. Forcibly taking wealth is not sin; those very things, when tainted by motive, are sin. (1-001-210)
