SECTION LXII
(Adivansavatarana Parva continued)
"Janamejaya said, 'O excellent
Brahmana, thou hast, indeed, told me, in brief, the history, called
Mahabharata, of the great acts of the Kurus. But, O thou of ascetic wealth,
recite now that wonderful narration fully. I feel a great curiosity to hear it.
It behoveth thee to recite it, therefore, in full. I am not satisfied with
hearing in a nutshell the great history. That could never have been a trifling
cause for which the virtuous ones could slay those whom they should not have
slain, and for which they are yet applauded by men. Why also did those tigers
among men, innocent and capable of avenging themselves upon their enemies,
calmly suffer the persecution of the wicked Kurus? Why also, O best of Brahmanas,
did Bhima of mighty arms and of the strength of ten thousand elephants, control
his anger, though wronged? Why also did the chaste Krishna, the daughter of
Drupada, wronged by those wretches and able to burn them, not burn the sons of
Dhritarashtra with her wrathful eyes? Why also did the two other sons of Pritha
(Bhima and Arjuna) and the two sons of Madri (Nakula and Sahadeva), themselves injured
by the wretched Kurus, follow Yudhishthira who was greatly addicted to the evil
habit of gambling? Why also did Yudhishthira, that foremost of all virtuous
men, the son of Dharma himself, fully acquainted with all duties, suffer that excess
of affliction? Why also did the Pandava Dhananjaya, having Krishna for his
charioteer, who by his arrows sent to the other world that dauntless host of
fighting men (suffer such persecution)? O thou of ascetic wealth, speak to me
of all these as they took place, and everything that those mighty charioteers
achieved.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'O monarch,
appoint thou a time for hearing it. This history told by Krishna-Dwaipayana is
very extensive. This is but the beginning. I shall recite it. I shall repeat
the whole of the composition in full, of the illustrious and great Rishi Vyasa
of immeasurable mental power, and worshipped in all the worlds. This Bharata
consists of a hundred thousand sacred slokas composed by the son of Satyavati,
of immeasurable mental power. He that reads it to others, and they that hear it
read, attain to the world of Brahman and become equal to the very gods. This
Bharata is equal unto the Vedas, is holy and excellent; is the worthiest of all
to be listened to, and is a Purana worshipped by the Rishis. It contains much
useful instruction on Artha and Kama (profit and pleasure). This sacred history
maketh the heart desire for salvation. Learned persons by reciting this Veda of
Krishna-Dwaipayana to those that are liberal, truthful and believing, earn much
wealth. Sins, such as killing the embryo in the womb, are destroyed assuredly
by this. A person, however cruel and sinful, by hearing this history, escapes
from all his sins like the Sun from Rahu (after the eclipse is over). This history
is called Jaya. It should be heard by those desirous of victory. A king by
hearing it may bring the whole world under subjection and conquer all his foes.
This history in itself is a mighty act of propitiation, a mighty sacrifice
productive of blessed fruit. It should always be heard by a young monarch with
his queen, for then they beget a heroic son or a daughter to occupy a throne.
This history is the high and sacred science of Dharma, Artha, and also of
Moksha; it hath been so said by Vyasa himself of mind that is immeasurable.
This history is recited in the present age and will be recited in the future.
They that hear it, read, have sons and servants always obedient to them and
doing their behests. All sins that are committed by body, word, or mind,
immediately leave them that hear this history. They who hear, without the
spirit of fault finding, the story of the birth of the Bharata princes, can
have no fear of maladies, let alone the fear of the other world.
"For extending the fame of the
high-souled Pandavas and of other Kshatriyas versed in all branches of
knowledge, high spirited, and already known in the world for their achievements,
Krishna-Dwaipayana, guided also by the desire of doing good to the world, hath
composed this work. It is excellent, productive of fame, grants length of life,
is sacred and heavenly. He who, from desire of acquiring religious merit, causeth
this history to be heard by sacred Brahmanas, acquireth great merit and virtue
that is inexhaustible. He that reciteth the famous generation of the Kurus
becometh immediately purified and acquireth a large family himself, and
becometh respected in the world. That Brahmana who regularly studies this
sacred Bharata for the four months of the rainy season, is cleansed from all
his sins. He that has read the Bharata may be regarded as one acquainted with
the Vedas.
"This work presents an account of the gods
and royal sages and sacred regenerate Rishis, the sinless Kesava; the god of
gods, Mahadeva and the goddess Parvati; the birth of Kartikeya who sprang from
union of Parvati with Mahadeva and was reared by many mothers; the greatness of
Brahmanas and of kine. This Bharata is a collection of all the Srutis, and is
fit to be heard by every virtuous person. That learned man who reciteth it to Brahmanas
during the sacred lunations, becometh cleansed of all sins, and, not caring for
heaven as it were, attaineth to a union with Brahma. He that causeth even a
single foot of this poem to be heard by Brahmanas during the performance of a
Sraddha, maketh that Sraddha inexhaustible, the Pitris becoming ever gratified
with the articles once presented to them. The sins that are committed daily by
our senses or the mind, those that are committed knowingly or unknowingly by
any man, are all destroyed by hearing the Mahabharata. The history of the exalted
birth of the Bharata princes is called the Mahabharata. He who knoweth this
etymology of the name is cleansed of all his sins. And as this history of the Bharata
race is so wonderful, that, when recited, it assuredly purifieth mortals from
all sins. The sage Krishna-Dwaipayana completed his work in three years. Rising
daily and purifying himself and performing his ascetic devotions, he composed
this Mahabharata. Therefore, this should be heard by Brahmanas with the
formality of a vow. He who reciteth this holy narration composed by Krishna
(Vyasa) for the hearing of others, and they who hear it, in whatever state he
or they may be, can never be affected by the fruit of deeds, good or bad. The
man desirous of acquiring virtue should hear it all. This is equivalent to all
histories, and he that heareth it always attaineth to purity of heart. The gratification
that one deriveth from attaining to heaven is scarcely equal to that which one
deriveth from hearing this holy history. The virtuous man who with reverence
heareth it or causeth it to be heard, obtaineth the fruit of the Rajasuya and
the horse-sacrifice. The Bharata is said to be as much a mine of gems as the
vast Ocean or the great mountain Meru. This history is sacred and excellent,
and is equivalent to the Vedas, worthy of being heard, pleasing to the ear,
sin-cleansing, and virtue-increasing. O monarch, he that giveth a copy of the
Bharata to one that asketh for it doth indeed make a present of the whole earth
with her belt of seas. O son of Parikshit, this pleasant narration that giveth virtue
and victory I am about to recite in its entirety: listen to it. The sage
Krishna-Dwaipayana regularly rising for three years, composed this wonderful
history called Mahabharata. O bull amongst the Bharata monarchs, whatever is
spoken about virtue, wealth, pleasure, and salvation may be seen elsewhere; but
whatever is not contained in this is not to be found anywhere.'"
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