"Ganesa, upon hearing this address, thus answered, 'I will become the writer of thy work, provided my pen do not for a
moment cease writing." And Vyasa said unto that divinity, 'Wherever there be anything thou dost not comprehend, cease to
continue writing.' Ganesa having signified his assent, by repeating the word Om! proceeded to write; and Vyasa began; and by
way of diversion, he knit the knots of composition exceeding close; by doing which, he dictated this work according to his
engagement.
I am (continued Sauti) acquainted with eight thousand and eight hundred verses, and so is Suka, and perhaps Sanjaya. From the
mysteriousness of their meaning, O Muni, no one is able, to this day, to penetrate those closely knit difficult slokas. Even the
omniscient Ganesa took a moment to consider; while Vyasa, however, continued to compose other verses in great abundance.
The wisdom of this work, like unto an instrument of applying collyrium, hath opened the eyes of the inquisitive world blinded
by the darkness of ignorance. As the sun dispelleth the darkness, so doth the Bharata by its discourses on religion, profit,
pleasure and final release, dispel the ignorance of men. As the full-moon by its mild light expandeth the buds of the water-lily,
so this Purana, by exposing the light of the Sruti hath expanded the human intellect. By the lamp of history, which destroyeth
the darkness of ignorance, the whole mansion of nature is properly and completely illuminated.
This work is a tree, of which the chapter of contents is the seed; the divisions called Pauloma and Astika are the root; the part
called Sambhava is the trunk; the books called Sabha and Aranya are the roosting perches; the books called Arani is the
knitting knots; the books called Virata and Udyoga the pith; the book named Bhishma, the main branch; the book called Drona,
the leaves; the book called Karna, the fair flowers; the book named Salya, their sweet smell; the books entitled Stri and
Aishika, the refreshing shade; the book called Santi, the mighty fruit; the book called Aswamedha, the immortal sap; the
denominated Asramavasika, the spot where it groweth; and the book called Mausala, is an epitome of the Vedas and held in
great respect by the virtuous Brahmanas. The tree of the Bharata, inexhaustible to mankind as the clouds, shall be as a source
of livelihood to all distinguished poets."
"Sauti continued, 'I will now speak of the undying flowery and fruitful productions of this tree, possessed of pure and pleasant
taste, and not to be destroyed even by the immortals. Formerly, the spirited and virtuous Krishna-Dwaipayana, by the
injunctions of Bhishma, the wise son of Ganga and of his own mother, became the father of three boys who were like the three
fires by the two wives of Vichitra-virya; and having thus raised up Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura, he returned to his recluse
abode to prosecute his religious exercise.
It was not till after these were born, grown up, and departed on the supreme journey, that the great Rishi Vyasa published the
Bharata in this region of mankind; when being solicited by Janamejaya and thousands of Brahmanas, he instructed his disciple
Vaisampayana, who was seated near him; and he, sitting together with the Sadasyas, recited the Bharata, during the intervals of
the ceremonies of the sacrifice, being repeatedly urged to proceed.
Vyasa hath fully represented the greatness of the house of Kuru, the virtuous principles of Gandhari, the wisdom of Vidura,
and the constancy of Kunti. The noble Rishi hath also described the divinity of Vasudeva, the rectitude of the sons of Pandu,
and the evil practices of the sons and partisans of Dhritarashtra.
Vyasa executed the compilation of the Bharata, exclusive of the episodes originally in twenty-four thousand verses; and so
much only is called by the learned as the Bharata. Afterwards, he composed an epitome in one hundred and fifty verses,
consisting of the introduction with the chapter of contents. This he first taught to his son Suka; and afterwards he gave it to
others of his disciples who were possessed of the same qualifications. After that he executed another compilation, consisting of
six hundred thousand verses. Of those, thirty hundred thousand are known in the world of the Devas; fifteen hundred thousand
in the world of the Pitris: fourteen hundred thousand among the Gandharvas, and one hundred thousand in the regions of
mankind. Narada recited them to the Devas, Devala to the Pitris, and Suka published them to the Gandharvas, Yakshas, and
Rakshasas: and in this world they were recited by Vaisampayana, one of the disciples of Vyasa, a man of just principles and the
first among all those acquainted with the Vedas. Know that I, Sauti, have also repeated one hundred thousand verses.
Yudhishthira is a vast tree, formed of religion and virtue; Arjuna is its trunk; Bhimasena, its branches; the two sons of Madri
are its full-grown fruit and flowers; and its roots are Krishna, Brahma, and the Brahmanas.
Pandu, after having subdued many countries by his wisdom and prowess, took up his abode with the Munis in a certain forest
as a sportsman, where he brought upon himself a very severe misfortune for having killed a stag coupling with its mate, which
served as a warning for the conduct of the princes of his house as long as they lived. Their mothers, in order that the ordinances
of the law might be fulfilled, admitted as substitutes to their embraces the gods Dharma, Vayu, Sakra, and the divinities the
twin Aswins. And when their offspring grew up, under the care of their two mothers, in the society of ascetics, in the midst of
sacred groves and holy recluse-abodes of religious men, they were conducted by Rishis into the presence of Dhritarashtra and
his sons, following as students in the habit of Brahmacharis, having their hair tied in knots on their heads. 'These our pupils',
said they, 'are as your sons, your brothers, and your friends; they are Pandavas.' Saying this, the Munis disappeared.
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