Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/36

2 fought the battles between the children of Kuru and Pandu, and all the chiefs of the land ranged on either side. Thence, being anxious to see you, I am come into your presence. Ye reverend sages, all of whom are to me as Brahma; ye greatly blessed, who shine in this place of sacrifice with the splendour of the solar fire; ye who have performed ablutions and are pure; ye who have concluded the silent meditations and have fed the holy fire; and ye who are sitting without care; what, O ye Dwijas, ( shall I repeat? Shall I recount the sacred stories collected in the Puranas containing precepts of religious duty and of worldly profit, or the acts of illustrious saints and sovereigns of mankind?"

The Rishis replied:—"The Purana, first promulgated by the great Rishi Dwaipayana, and which after having been heard both by the gods and the Brahmarshis was highly esteemed, which is the most eminent narrative that exists diversified both in diction and division, possessing subtile meanings logically combined, and embellished from the Vedas, is a sacred work. Composed in elegant language, it includeth the subjects of other books. It is elucidated by other Sastras, and comprehendeth the sense of the four Vedas. We are desirous of hearing that history, also called Bharata, the holy composition of the wonderful Vyasa, which dispelleth the fear of evil, just as it was cheerfully recited by the Rishi Vaishampayana, under the direction of Dwaipayana himself, at the of Raja Janamejay?"

Sauti then said:—"Having bowed down to the primordial male being Isana, to whom multitudes make offerings, and who is adored by the multitude; who is the true incorruptible one, Brahma, perceptible, imperceptible, eternal; who is both a and an  being; which is the universe and also distinct from the existing and  universe; who is the creator of high and low; the ancient, exalted, inexhaustible one; who is Vishnu, the beneficent and the beneficence itself, worthy of all preference, pure and immaculate; who is Hari, the ruler of the faculties, the guide of all things moveable and immoveable; I will declare the sacred thoughts of the illustrious sage Vyasa, of marvellous deeds and worshipped here by all. Some bards have already published this history,