Anshavatarana Parva — Brief account of origin of Vyasa etc.

Janamejaya said : O best of Brahmanas, you have told me in brief the history called Mahabharata, containing the great deeds of the Kurus.

O great ascetic, recite now fully this wonderful history. I feel a great curiosity to hear it.

You should, therefore, recite it in full. I am not satisfied with hearing in the abstract this great history of my ancestors.

It could not be a trifling cause for which the virtuous Pandavas killed those whom they should not have killed and for which they are still praised by men.

Why did those best of men, (the Pandavas), capable of avenging themselves on enemies, though innocent, quietly suffered the persecutions of the wicked Kurus?

O best of Brahmanas, why did the mighty armed Bhima, having the strength of ten thousand elephants, though persecuted, patiently kept his anger down?

Why did not the chaste Krishnaa, the daughter of Drupada, though persecuted by the wicked (Kurus), burn the sons of Dhritarashtra by her angry eyes, capable as she was to do it?

Why did the two sons of Pritha, (Bhima and Arjuna) and the two sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva) those best of men, though persecuted by the wretches, follow Yudhishthira, who was addicted to the evil habit of gambling?

Why did Yudhishthira, the best of all virtuous men and the son of Dharma himself, though acquainted with all duties, suffer great afflictions?

Why did the son of Pandu, Arjuna, Krishna himself being his charioteer and who could by his arrows send to the other world hosts of fighting men, suffer so many persecutions?

O great, Rishi, tell me all this as they happened. (Tell me) everything that those highly mighty car-warriors did.

Vaishampayana said : O great king, appoint a time (to hear it). This history is very extensive. This is but the beginning. I shall recite the whole of this history, composed by the illustrious Krishna Dvaipayana, the great Rishi, Vyasa of immeasurable mental power, who is adored by all the world.

This (Bharata) contains one lac sacred slokas, composed by the son of Satyavati, Vyasa of immeasurable mental power.

The learned man who reads it to others and those that hear it read, go to the world of Brahma and become equal to the celestials.

This (Bharata) is equal to the Vedas; it is holy and excellent; it is the worthiest of all that should be listened to. It is a Purana, adored by the Rishis.

It contains many useful instructions on Artha and Kama. This sacred history makes the heart desire to attain salvation.

The learned men earn much wealth by reciting this Veda composed by Krishna (Dvaipayana) to those who are noble, liberal, truthful and believing.

Sins, even of killing embryo, are destroyed by (reading or hearing) it. Even a greatly sinful man, by hearing this history, escapes from all his sins, like the sun from Rahu. This history is called Jaya (victory); it should be heard by those that desire victory.

Hearing it, a king can bring the whole world under his subjection and defeat all his foes. It is a mighty act of propitiation; it is a great sacrifice, productive of blessed fruits. SO

It should be heard by the crown-princes with their wives, for then, they would beget a heroic son or a daughter who occupies a throne.

It is the Dharma Shastra, it is also the sacred Artha Shastra, it is also the great Moksha Shastra, said Vyasa of immeasurable intelligence.

It is recited in the present age and will be recited in future ages. He, who hears it, gets sons and survivors, who perform their favourite works.

He who hears it escapes immediately from all his sins that are committed by him in body, word or mind.

He who hears the history of the Bharata race without being fault-finding, can have no fear from diseases, let alone the fear of the other world.

In order to extend the fame of the highsouled Pandavas and other Kshatriyas, learned in all branches of knowledge, high-spirited and already famous in the world for their great deeds, Krishna Dvaipayana, moved by the desire of benefiting the world, has composed this excellent, sacred and big work which spreads one's fame and gives one a long life. He who, from the desire of acquiring virtue, causes this history to be heard in this world by holy Brahmanas, gains inexhaustible virtue. He who recites the history of the Kurus, becomes immediately pure and holy.

He acquires large family and becomes respected in the world. The Brahmana, who reads the holy Bharata, regularly,

For the four rainy months of the year, is cleansed of all his sins. He, who has read the Bharata, may be regarded as one who has studied the Vedas.

In it have been described the celestials, the royal sages, the holy and regenerate Rishis, the sinless Keshava (Krishna).

The god of gods, (Mahadeva) the goddess Parvati, the birth of Kartikeya, who had many mothers,

And the greatness of Brahmanas and kine. It is a collection of all Shrutis and a work worthy to be heard by virtuous-minded men.

The learned man, who recites it to Brahmanas during the sacred Parvas (lunar changes), is cleansed of all his sins and being victorious over heaven (not caring for it) attains to an union with Brahma.

He who causes even a single line of it to be heard by Brahmanas at a Shraddha, that Shraddha becomes inexhaustible and the Pitris (ancestors) become gratified with food presented to them.

The sins that are committed daily by our senses and by our mind and those that are committed knowingly or unknowingly by any man.

Are all destroyed by hearing the Mahabharata, The history of the great births of the Bharata princes is called Mahabharata.

He who knows the etymology of the name (Bharata is cleansed of all his sins. As this history of the Bharata race is wonderful.

Therefore, when recited, it purifies men from their sins. The Rishi Krishna Dvaipayana completed it in three years.

Rising daily (in the morning), purifying himself (by ablutions) and performing all his religious (he composed this Mahabharata).

Therefore, the Brahmanas should hear, with prescribed rules, this holy history, this excellent narration of Bharata, composed by Krishna (Dvaipayana.)

The Brahmanas who recite it for others to hear it and those who hear it, in whatever state duties, they may be, can never be affected by the fruits of good or bad deeds.

The man, who is desirous of acquiring virtue, should hear it all. It is equal to all histories in the world and he who hears it acquires purity of heart.

The bliss that one enjoys in attaining heaven is scarcely equal to that which one derives from hearing this greatly holy history.

The virtuous man, who hears or causes it to be heard with reverence, obtains the fruits of a Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifice.

This Bharata is said to be a mine of gems, as the illustrious ocean or the great mountain Meru.

This (Bharata) is sacred and excellent and it equals the Vedas in sanctity. It is worthy of being heard, it is pleasing to the ear, it is sincleansing and virtue-increasing.

O king, he who gives a copy of Mahabharata to one who asks for it, does give (not a copy of a book, but) the whole of the earth having a belt of seas.

O son of Parikshit, this pleasant and sacred history that secures victory, (to the hearer), I shall now recite to you in full, Listen to it.

The Rishi Krishna Dvaipayana, regularly rising (every morning) for three years, composed this wonderful history, called Mahabharata.

O best of the Bharata race, whatever about Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, that is contained in this Bharata, may be met with elsewhere; but whatever is not in it, is not to be found anywhere.