Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/203

Rh worshipped in all the worlds. This Bharata consists of an hundred thousand sacred slokas composed by the son of Satyavati of immeasurable mental powers. He that shall read it to others, or they who shall hear it read, shall attain to the world of Brahma and be 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 containeth 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 noble and 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 of itself is a mighty act of propitiousness, a mighty sacrifice, to give blessed fruit. It should ever be heard by a young monarch with his queen, for then they may have a heroic son or a daughter who shall be the heiress to a kingdom. This history is the sacred Dharma-shastra; this too is the great Artha-shastra; and this also is the Moksha-shastra: it hath been so said by Vyasa himself of mind that is immeasurable. This history is recited in the present age and will be so recited in the future. They that hear it have sons and servants always obedient to them and doing their behests. All sins that are committed either by body, word, or mind, immediately leave him who hath heard this history. They who hear, without a spirit of fault-finding, the story of the birth of the Bharata princes, 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 Kshatrias 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 benefitting the world, hath composed this work that is excel-