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Rh "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 beard by Brahmanas during the performance of a Sraddha, maketh that Sraddba inexbaustible, 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 commiced 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 per. forming his ascetic devocions, 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 bear 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 cause th it to be heard, obtaineth the fruit of the Raju uva and the horsesacrifice. The Bharata is said to be as much a mine of gems as the illustrious 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, be that giveth a copy of the Bharata to one that asketh for it dorh indeed make a present of the whole earth with her helt 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 wondertul history called Mahabharata. O bull amongst the Bharata monarchs, whatever spoken off about virtue, wealth, pleasure, and salvation may be seen elsewhere: but whatever is not contained in this is not to be found anywhere."

So ends the sixty-second section in the Adivansavatrana Parva of the Adi Parva. 18