01.054
Library: Requested, Vyasa asks Vaishampaya to narrate Mahabharata.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
श्रुत्वा तु सर्पसत्राय दीक्षितं जनमेजयम्। अभ्यागच्छदृषिर्विद्वान्कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा ॥१-५४-१॥
Upon hearing that Janamejaya was consecrated for the snake sacrifice, the wise sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana approached him.
जनयामास यं काली शक्तेः पुत्रात्पराशरात्। कन्यैव यमुनाद्वीपे पाण्डवानां पितामहम् ॥१-५४-२॥
Kali gave birth to the grandfather of the Pandavas, whom she bore from Parashara, the son of Shakti, as a daughter in the Yamuna island.
जातमात्रश्च यः सद्य इष्ट्या देहमवीवृधत्। वेदांश्चाधिजगे साङ्गान्सेतिहासान्महायशाः ॥१-५४-३॥
The one who, just after being born, immediately grew his body through sacrifice, and mastered the Vedas along with their limbs and histories, is greatly renowned.
यं नातितपसा कश्चिन्न वेदाध्ययनेन च। न व्रतैर्नोपवासैश्च न प्रसूत्या न मन्युना ॥१-५४-४॥
Whom no one can know by excessive austerity, study of the Vedas, vows, fasting, birth, or anger.
विव्यासैकं चतुर्धा यो वेदं वेदविदां वरः। परावरज्ञो ब्रह्मर्षिः कविः सत्यव्रतः शुचिः ॥१-५४-५॥
Vyasa, the sage, divided the single Veda into four parts. He is the best among those who know the Vedas, a knower of past and future, a sage among Brahmins, a poet, and one who is pure and truthful in his vows.
यः पाण्डुं धृतराष्ट्रं च विदुरं चाप्यजीजनत्। शन्तनोः सन्ततिं तन्वन्पुण्यकीर्तिर्महायशाः ॥१-५४-६॥
He who begot Pandu, Dhritarashtra, and Vidura, extending the lineage of Shantanu, was of virtuous fame and great renown.
जनमेजयस्य राजर्षेः स तद्यज्ञसदस्तदा। विवेश शिष्यैः सहितो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः ॥१-५४-७॥
The royal sage Janamejaya, accompanied by his disciples who were proficient in the Vedas and Vedangas, entered the sacrificial assembly at that time.
तत्र राजानमासीनं ददर्श जनमेजयम्। वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिर्देवैरिव पुरंदरम् ॥१-५४-८॥
There, King Janamejaya was seen seated, surrounded by many members, like Indra among the gods.
तथा मूर्धावसिक्तैश्च नानाजनपदेश्वरैः। ऋत्विग्भिर्देवकल्पैश्च कुशलैर्यज्ञसंस्तरे ॥१-५४-९॥
Thus, the sacrificial session was attended by various regional lords who were anointed on the head, along with god-like priests and skilled individuals.
जनमेजयस्तु राजर्षिर्दृष्ट्वा तमृषिमागतम्। सगणोऽब्युद्ययौ तूर्णं प्रीत्या भरतसत्तमः ॥१-५४-१०॥
Janamejaya, the royal sage, upon seeing the sage arrive, quickly went forth with his retinue, filled with affection, O best of the Bharatas.
काञ्चनं विष्टरं तस्मै सदस्यानुमते प्रभुः। आसनं कल्पयामास यथा शक्रो बृहस्पतेः ॥१-५४-११॥
The lord, with the assembly's consent, arranged a golden seat for him, just as Indra did for Brihaspati.
तत्रोपविष्टं वरदं देवर्षिगणपूजितम्। पूजयामास राजेन्द्रः शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥१-५४-१२॥
There, the king worshipped the boon-giver, who was seated and revered by the sages, following the scriptural rites.
पाद्यमाचमनीयं च अर्घ्यं गां च विधानतः। पितामहाय कृष्णाय तदर्हाय न्यवेदयत् ॥१-५४-१३॥
He presented the ceremonial offerings, including water for washing feet, sipping water, an offering, and a cow, to the grandfather and Krishna, following the prescribed rituals.
प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां पाण्डवाज्जनमेजयात्। गां चैव समनुज्ञाय व्यासः प्रीतोऽभवत्तदा ॥१-५४-१४॥
Vyasa was pleased after accepting the worship from Janamejaya, the Pandava, and granting permission for the cow.
तथा सम्पूजयित्वा तं यत्नेन प्रपितामहम्। उपोपविश्य प्रीतात्मा पर्यपृच्छदनामयम् ॥१-५४-१५॥
Thus, having worshipped his great-grandfather with great care, he sat nearby with a pleased heart and inquired about his well-being.
भगवानपि तं दृष्ट्वा कुशलं प्रतिवेद्य च। सदस्यैः पूजितः सर्वैः सदस्यानभ्यपूजयत् ॥१-५४-१६॥
The Lord, upon seeing him, inquired about his well-being and after being honored by all the members, he honored them back.
ततस्तं सत्कृतं सर्वैः सदस्यैर्जनमेजयः। इदं पश्चाद्द्विजश्रेष्ठं पर्यपृच्छत्कृताञ्जलिः ॥१-५४-१७॥
Then, after being honored by all the members, Janamejaya respectfully asked the best of the Brahmins with folded hands.
कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च भवान्प्रत्यक्षदर्शिवान्। तेषां चरितमिच्छामि कथ्यमानं त्वया द्विज ॥१-५४-१८॥
You have directly witnessed the events of the Kurus and the Pandavas. I wish for you to narrate their story, O Brahmin.
कथं समभवद्भेदस्तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्। तच्च युद्धं कथं वृत्तं भूतान्तकरणं महत् ॥१-५४-१९॥
How did the division occur among those with unwearied actions? And how did that great battle, destructive to beings, take place?
पितामहानां सर्वेषां दैवेनाविष्टचेतसाम्। कार्त्स्न्येनैतत्समाचक्ष्व भगवन्कुशलो ह्यसि ॥१-५४-२०॥
O Lord, you are indeed skilled to explain this completely, as the minds of all ancestors are possessed by fate.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा। शशास शिष्यमासीनं वैशम्पायनमन्तिके ॥१-५४-२१॥
Upon hearing those words, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana instructed his disciple Vaiśampāyana, who was seated nearby.
कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च यथा भेदोऽभवत्पुरा। तदस्मै सर्वमाचक्ष्व यन्मत्तः श्रुतवानसि ॥१-५४-२२॥
Tell him everything about how the division between the Kurus and the Pandavas happened in the past, as you have heard it from me.
गुरोर्वचनमाज्ञाय स तु विप्रर्षभस्तदा। आचचक्षे ततः सर्वमितिहासं पुरातनम् ॥१-५४-२३॥
Upon understanding the teacher's instruction, the eminent Brahmin then narrated the entire ancient history.
तस्मै राज्ञे सदस्येभ्यः क्षत्रियेभ्यश्च सर्वशः। भेदं राज्यविनाशं च कुरुपाण्डवयोस्तदा ॥१-५४-२४॥
Then, to the king, the members, and the warriors, the division and destruction of the kingdom of the Kuru and Pandavas was revealed.
