01.001
जयति पराशरसूनुः सत्यवतीहृदयनन्दनो व्यासः । यस्यास्यकमलगलितं वाङ्मयममृतं जगत्पिबति ॥
Victorious is Vyāsa, son of Parāśara and delight of Satyavatī’s heart, from whose lotus-mouth the world drinks the nectar of speech.
VICTORY:1-1-1
लोमहर्षणपुत्र उग्रश्रवाः सूतः पौराणिको नैमिषारण्ये शौनकस्य कुलपतेर्द्वादशवार्षिके सत्रे ॥१-००१-१॥
Ugraśravā, the son of Lomaharṣaṇa, a bard and knower of the Purāṇas, (was present) in the twelve-year sacrificial session of Śaunaka, the chief of the lineage, in the forest of Naimiṣa.
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समासीनानभ्यगच्छद्ब्रह्मर्षीन्संशितव्रतान्। विनयावनतो भूत्वा कदाचित्सूतनन्दनः ॥१-००१-२॥
Once, the son of the Sūta, bowing humbly, approached the Brahmarṣis, who were seated and firm in their vows.
VICTORY:1-1-4
तमाश्रममनुप्राप्तं नैमिषारण्यवासिनः। चित्राः श्रोतुं कथास्तत्र परिवव्रुस्तपस्विनः ॥१-००१-३॥
The ascetics dwelling in Naimiṣāraṇya gathered there around him, who had arrived at the hermitage, desiring to hear various stories.
VICTORY:1-1-5
अभिवाद्य मुनींस्तांस्तु सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलिः।अपृच्छत्स तपोवृद्धिं सद्भिश्चैवाभिनन्दितः ॥१-००१-४॥
Having saluted all those sages with folded hands, he inquired about the growth of their austerities, and was warmly welcomed by the virtuous ones.
VICTORY:1-1-6
अथ तेषूपविष्टेषु सर्वेष्वेव तपस्विषु।निर्दिष्टमासनं भेजे विनयाल्लोमहर्षणिः ॥१-००१-५॥
Then, when all the ascetics had seated themselves, Lomaharṣaṇa's son, out of humility, took the seat that was designated for him.
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सुखासीनं ततस्तं तु विश्रान्तमुपलक्ष्य च।अथापृच्छदृषिस्तत्र कश्चित्प्रस्तावयन्कथाः ॥१-००१-६॥
Then, observing him comfortably seated and rested, a certain sage there asked him, introducing various stories.
VICTORY:1-1-8
कुत आगम्यते सौते क्व चायं विहृतस्त्वया।कालः कमलपत्राक्ष शंसैतत्पृच्छतो मम ॥१-००१-७॥
From where have you come, O son of a Sūta, and where have you spent this time? O lotus-eyed one, tell this to me as I ask.
VICTORY:1-1-9
सूत उवाच॥
जनमेजयस्य राजर्षेः सर्पसत्रे महात्मनः।समीपे पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य सम्यक्पारिक्षितस्य च ॥१-००१-८॥
The Sūta said:
At the snake sacrifice of the great-souled royal sage Janamejaya, in the proper presence of the king of kings, the son of Parīkṣit.
VICTORY:1-1-10
कृष्णद्वैपायनप्रोक्ताः सुपुण्या विविधाः कथाः।कथिताश्चापि विधिवद्या वैशम्पायनेन वै ॥१-००१-९॥
The highly meritorious and various stories spoken by Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) were also properly narrated by Vaiśampāyana.
VICTORY:1-1-11
वेद वैयासिकीः सर्वाः कथा धर्मार्यैसंहिताः | वक्ष्यामि वो द्विजश्रेष्ठाः शृण्वन्त्वद्य तपोधनाः॥KUMB-१-१-८ (८)॥
I know all the Vyāsa-derived stories, composed with dharma and artha. I shall tell them to you, best of the twice-born; listen today, ascetics rich in austerity.
VICTORY:1-1-12
तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण व्यस्य वेदं सनातनम्।इतिहासमिमं चक्रे पुण्यं सत्यवतीसुतः ॥१-००१-५२॥
Having compiled the eternal Veda through austerity and disciplined life, the son of Satyavatī composed this meritorious history (Mahābhārata).
VICTORY:1-1-55
तस्याख्यानवरिष्ठस्य कृत्वा द्वैपायनः प्रभुः | कथमध्यापयानीह शिष्यानित्यन्वचिन्तयत्॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-८० (८०) / 01.001.055 + 01.001.056॥
Having composed that foremost narrative, lord Dvaipāyana reflected: 'How shall I teach it here to my disciples?'
VICTORY:1-1-56
तस्य तच्चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा ऋषेर्द्वैपायनस्य च | तत्राजगाम भगवान्ब्रह्मा लोकगुरुः स्वयम्॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-८१ (८१) / 01.001.056 + 01.001.057॥
Knowing that thought of the sage Dvaipāyana, blessed Brahmā, teacher of the world, came there himself.
VICTORY:1-1-57
प्रीत्यर्थं तस्य चैवर्षेर्लोकानां हितकाम्यया | तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो भूत्वा प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतः स्थितः॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-८२ (८२) / 01.001.057 + 01.001.058॥
For the sage's pleasure and desiring the welfare of the worlds, he came; seeing him, Vyāsa was amazed and stood bowed with joined palms.
VICTORY:1-1-58
आसनं कल्पयामास सर्वैर्मुनिगणैर्वृतः॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-८३ (८३) / 01.001.058॥
Surrounded by all the hosts of sages, he prepared a seat.
VICTORY:1-1-59
हिरण्यमर्भमासीनं तस्मिंस्तु परमासने | परिवृत्यासनभ्याशे वासवेयः स्थितोऽभवत्॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-८४ (८४) / 01.001.059॥
When Hiraṇyagarbha had taken that supreme seat, Vāsaveya stood nearby, having approached the seat.
VICTORY:1-1-60
अनुज्ञातोऽथ कृष्णस्तु ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना | निषसादासनाभ्याशे प्रीयमाणः शुचिस्मितः॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-८५ (८५) / 01.001.060॥
Then Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, permitted by Brahmā Parameṣṭhin, sat near the seat, delighted and pure-smiling.
VICTORY:1-1-61
उवाच स महातेजा ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम् | कृतं मयेदं भगवन्काव्यं परमपूजितम्॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-८६ (८६) / 01.001.061॥
The mighty one said to Brahmā Parameṣṭhin: 'Blessed lord, I have composed this highly revered poem.'
VICTORY:1-1-62
तपोविशिष्टदपि वै वसिष्ठान्मुनिपुंगवात् | मन्ये श्रेष्ठव्यं त्वां वै रहस्यज्ञानवेदनात्॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-९६ (९६) / 01.001.071॥
Because of your knowledge of secrets, I consider you superior even to the great sage Vasiṣṭha, distinguished in austerity.
VICTORY:1-1-63
जन्मप्रभृति सत्यां ते वेद्मि गां ब्रह्मवादिनीम् | त्वयाच काव्यमित्युक्तं तस्मात्काव्यं भविष्यति॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-९७ (९७) / 01.001.072॥
From birth I know your speech to be true and declarative of Brahman; since you have called it a poem, a poem it shall be.
VICTORY:1-1-64
काव्यस्य लेखनार्थाय गणेशः स्मर्यतां मुने.॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-१०९ (१०९) / 01.001.074॥
For the writing of this poem, remember Gaṇeśa, O sage.
VICTORY:1-1-65
एवमाभाष्य तं ब्रह्मा जगाम स्वं निवेशनम् | भगवान्स जगत्स्रष्टा ऋषिदेवगणैः सह॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-११० (११०) / 01.001.074॥
Having addressed him thus, Brahmā, the creator of the world, went to his own abode together with hosts of seers and gods.
VICTORY:1-1-66
ततः सस्मार हेरम्बं व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-१११ (१११) / 01.001.075॥
Then Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, remembered Heramba.
VICTORY:1-1-67
स्मृतमात्रो गणेशानो भक्तचिन्तितपूरकः | तत्राजगाम विघ्नेशो वेदव्यासो यतः स्थितः॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-११२ (११२) / 01.001.075 + 01.001.076॥
Gaṇeśa, fulfiller of devotees' wishes, came as soon as he was remembered; Vighneśa arrived where Vedavyāsa stood.
VICTORY:1-1-68
पूजितश्चोपविष्टश्च व्यासेनोक्तस्तदानघ | लेखको भारतस्यास्य भव त्वं गणनायक || मयैव प्रोच्यमानस्य मनसा कल्पितस्य च॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-११३ (११३) / 01.001.076 + 01.001.077॥
Honoured and seated, the sinless one was told by Vyāsa: 'Be the scribe of this Bhārata, O leader of the gaṇas, as I recite what has been conceived in my mind.'
VICTORY:1-1-69
श्रुत्वैतत्प्राह विघ्नेशो यदि मे लेखनी क्षणम् | लिखतो नावतिष्ठेत तदा स्यां लेखको ह्यहम्॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-११४ (११४) / 01.001.078॥
Hearing this, Vighneśa said: 'If my pen does not stop even for a moment while I write, then I shall be your scribe.'
VICTORY:1-1-70
व्यासोऽप्युवाच तं देवमबुद्ध्वा मा लिख क्वचित् | ओमित्युक्त्वा गणेशोपि बभूव किल लेखकः॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-११५ (११५) / 01.001.079॥
Vyāsa said to the god: 'Do not write anything without understanding it.' Saying 'Om,' Gaṇeśa then became the scribe.
VICTORY:1-1-71
ग्रन्थग्रन्थिं तदा चक्रे मुनिर्गूढं कुतूहलात् | यस्मिन्प्रतिज्ञया प्राह मुनिर्द्वैपायनस्त्विदम्॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-११६ (११६) / 01.001.080॥
Then the sage, out of curiosity, made knotty verses with hidden meaning; on that condition sage Dvaipāyana declared the following.
VICTORY:1-1-72
अष्टौ श्लोकसहस्राणि अष्टौ श्लोकशतानि च | अहं वेद्मि शुको वेत्ति संजयो वेत्ति वा न वा॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-११७ (११७) / 01.001.081॥
There are eight thousand verses and eight hundred; I know them, Śuka knows them, and Sañjaya may or may not know them.
VICTORY:1-1-73
तच्छ्लोककूटमद्यापि ग्रथितं सुदृढं मुने | भेत्तुं न शक्यतेऽर्थस्यं गूढत्वात्प्रश्रितस्य च॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-११८ (११८) / 01.001.082॥
Even today that knot of verses is tightly bound, O sage; it cannot be broken because of the depth and hiddenness of its meaning.
VICTORY:1-1-74
सर्वज्ञोपि गणेशो यत्क्षणमास्ते विचारयन् | तावच्चकार व्यासोपि श्लोकानन्यान्बहूनपि॥KUMB/NILA-१-१-११९ (११९) / 01.001.083॥
While even omniscient Gaṇeśa paused for a moment to consider them, Vyāsa composed many other verses.
VICTORY:1-1-75
जनमेजयेन पृष्टः सन्ब्राह्मणैश्च सहस्रशः।शशास शिष्यमासीनं वैशम्पायनमन्तिके ॥१-००१-५७॥
Having been asked by Janamejaya and thousands of Brāhmaṇas, the sage instructed his disciple Vaiśampāyana, who was seated nearby.
VICTORY:1-1-76
स सदस्यैः सहासीनः श्रावयामास भारतम्।कर्मान्तरेषु यज्ञस्य चोद्यमानः पुनः पुनः ॥१-००१-५८॥
He, seated along with the ritual participants, recited the Bhārata during the intervals of the sacrifice, being urged again and again.
VICTORY:1-1-77