01.054
Library: Requested, Vyasa asks Vaishampaya to narrate Mahabharata.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
śrutvā tu sarpasatrāya dīkṣitaṃ janamejayam। abhyāgacchadṛṣirvidvān kṛṣṇadvaipāyanastadā ॥1-54-1॥
Upon hearing that Janamejaya was consecrated for the snake sacrifice, the wise sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana approached him.
janayāmāsa yaṃ kālī śakteḥ putrātparāśarāt। kanyaiva yamunādvīpe pāṇḍavānāṃ pitāmaham ॥1-54-2॥
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.
jātamātraśca yaḥ sadya iṣṭyā dehamavīvṛdhat. vedāṃścādhijage sāṅgānsetihāsānmahāyaśāḥ ॥1-54-3॥
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.
yaṃ nātitapasā kaścinna vedādhyayanena ca। na vratairnopavāsaiśca na prasūtyā na manyunā ॥1-54-4॥
Whom no one can know by excessive austerity, study of the Vedas, vows, fasting, birth, or anger.
vivyāsaikaṃ caturdhā yo vedaṃ vedavidāṃ varaḥ। parāvarajño brahmarṣiḥ kaviḥ satyavrataḥ śuciḥ ॥1-54-5॥
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.
yaḥ pāṇḍuṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca viduraṃ cāpyajījanat। śantanoḥ santatiṃ tanvanpuṇyakīrtirmahāyaśāḥ ॥1-54-6॥
He who begot Pandu, Dhritarashtra, and Vidura, extending the lineage of Shantanu, was of virtuous fame and great renown.
janamejayasya rājarṣeḥ sa tadyajñasadastadā। viveśa śiṣyaiḥ sahito vedavedāṅgapāragaiḥ ॥1-54-7॥
The royal sage Janamejaya, accompanied by his disciples who were proficient in the Vedas and Vedangas, entered the sacrificial assembly at that time.
tatra rājānam āsīnaṃ dadarśa janamejayam। vṛtaṃ sadasyaiḥ bahubhir devair iva puraṃdaram ॥1-54-8॥
There, King Janamejaya was seen seated, surrounded by many members, like Indra among the gods.
tathā mūrdhāvasiktaiśca nānājanapadeśvaraiḥ| ṛtvigbhirdevakalpaiśca kuśalairyajñasaṃstare ॥1-54-9॥
Thus, the sacrificial session was attended by various regional lords who were anointed on the head, along with god-like priests and skilled individuals.
janamejayastu rājarṣirdṛṣṭvā tamṛṣimāgatam। sagaṇo'bhyudyayau tūrṇaṃ prītyā bharatasattamaḥ ॥1-54-10॥
Janamejaya, the royal sage, upon seeing the sage arrive, quickly went forth with his retinue, filled with affection, O best of the Bharatas.
kāñcanaṃ viṣṭaraṃ tasmai sadasyānumate prabhuḥ| āsanaṃ kalpayāmāsa yathā śakro bṛhaspateḥ ॥1-54-11॥
The lord, with the assembly's consent, arranged a golden seat for him, just as Indra did for Brihaspati.
tatropaviṣṭaṃ varadaṃ devarṣigaṇapūjitam। pūjayāmāsa rājendraḥ śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā ॥1-54-12॥
There, the king worshipped the boon-giver, who was seated and revered by the sages, following the scriptural rites.
pādyam ācamanīyaṃ ca arghyaṃ gāṃ ca vidhānataḥ। pitāmahāya kṛṣṇāya tadarhāya nyavedayat ॥1-54-13॥
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.
pratigṛhya ca tāṃ pūjāṃ pāṇḍavājjanamejayāt। gāṃ caiva samanujñāya vyāsaḥ prīto'bhavattadā ॥1-54-14॥
Vyasa was pleased after accepting the worship from Janamejaya, the Pandava, and granting permission for the cow.
tathā sampūjayitvā taṃ yatnena prapitāmaham। upopaviśya prītātmā paryapṛcchadanāmayam ॥1-54-15॥
Thus, having worshipped his great-grandfather with great care, he sat nearby with a pleased heart and inquired about his well-being.
bhagavān api taṃ dṛṣṭvā kuśalaṃ prativedya ca। sadasyaiḥ pūjitaḥ sarvaiḥ sadasyān abhyapūjayat ॥1-54-16॥
The Lord, upon seeing him, inquired about his well-being and after being honored by all the members, he honored them back.
tatastaṃ satkṛtaṃ sarvaiḥ sadasyaiḥ janamejayaḥ। idaṃ paścād dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ paryapṛcchat kṛtāñjaliḥ ॥1-54-17॥
Then, after being honored by all the members, Janamejaya respectfully asked the best of the Brahmins with folded hands.
kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhavānpratyakṣadarśivān। teṣāṃ caritamicchāmi kathyamānaṃ tvayā dvija ॥1-54-18॥
You have directly witnessed the events of the Kurus and the Pandavas. I wish for you to narrate their story, O Brahmin.
kathaṁ samabhavadbhedasteṣāmakliṣṭakarmaṇām। tacca yuddhaṁ kathaṁ vṛttaṁ bhūtāntakaraṇaṁ mahat ॥1-54-19॥
How did the division occur among those with unwearied actions? And how did that great battle, destructive to beings, take place?
pitāmahānāṃ sarveṣāṃ daivenāviṣṭacetasām। kārtsnyenaitatsamācakṣva bhagavankuśalo hyasi ॥1-54-20॥
O Lord, you are indeed skilled to explain this completely, as the minds of all ancestors are possessed by fate.
tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā kṛṣṇadvaipāyanastadā। śaśāsa śiṣyamāsīnaṁ vaiśampāyanamantike ॥1-54-21॥
Upon hearing those words, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana instructed his disciple Vaiśampāyana, who was seated nearby.
kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yathā bhedo'bhavatpurā| tadasmai sarvamācakṣva yanmattaḥ śrutavānasi ॥1-54-22॥
Tell him everything about how the division between the Kurus and the Pandavas happened in the past, as you have heard it from me.
guror vacanam ājñāya sa tu viprarṣabhas tadā। ācacakṣe tataḥ sarvam itihāsaṃ purātanam ॥1-54-23॥
Upon understanding the teacher's instruction, the eminent Brahmin then narrated the entire ancient history.
tasmai rājñe sadasyebhyaḥ kṣatriyebhyaśca sarvaśaḥ| bhedaṃ rājyavināśaṃ ca kurupāṇḍavayostadā ॥1-54-24॥
Then, to the king, the members, and the warriors, the division and destruction of the kingdom of the Kuru and Pandavas was revealed.
