Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/57

Rh for two days; and Salya for half a day. After that lasted for half a day the encounter with clubs between Duryodhana and Bhima. At the close of that day, Aswatthama, Kritavarma and Kripa destroyed the army of Yudhishthira in the night while sleeping without suspicion of danger.

"O Saunaka, this best of narrations called Bharata which has begun to be repeated at thy sacrifice, was formerly repeated at the sacrifice of Janamejaya by an intelligent disciple of Vyasa. It is divided into several sections: in the beginning are Paushya, Pauloma, and Astikaparvas, describing in full the valor and renown of kings. It is a work whose descriptions, diction, and sense are varied and wonderful. It contains an account of various manners and rites. It is accepted by the wise as the state called Vairagya is by men desirous of final release. As Self among things to be known, as life among things that are dear, so is this history that furnisheth the means of arriving at the knowledge of Brahma the first among all the shastras. There is not a story current in this world but doth depend upon this history even as the body upon the food that it taketh. As masters of good lineage are ever attended upon by servants desirous of preferment, so is the Bharata cherished by all poets. As the words constituting the several branches of knowledge appertaining to the world and the Veda display only vowels and consonants, so this excellent history displayeth only the highest wisdom.

"Listen, O ye ascetics, to the outlines of the several divisions (parvas) of this history called Bharata, endued with great wisdom, of sections and feet that are wonderful and various, of subtile meanings and logical connection, and embellished with the substance of the Vedas.

"The first parva is called Anukramanika; the second, Sangraha; then Pausya; then Pauloma; then Astika; then Adivansavatarana. Then comes the Samvava of wonderful and thrilling incidents. Then comes (setting fire to the house of lac) and then  (death of Hidimba) parvas; then comes  (death of Baka) and then  The next is called Swyamvara (election of husband by Panchali), in which Arjuna by the