Mahabharata, Book 1, Section IV: Pauloma Parvaआदिपर्व

Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 1.4.

4Sanskrit adhyāya 1.4 · Sanskrit source · English source

Sanskrit

पौराणिकः पुराणे कृतश्रमः स कृताञ्जलिस्तानुवाच।
`मयोत्तङ्कस्य चरितमशेषमुक्तं जनमेजयस्य सार्पसत्रे निमित्तान्तरमिदमपि।'
किं भवन्तः श्रोतुमिच्छन्ति किमहं ब्रवाणीति।।
तमृषय ऊचुः।
परं रौमहर्षणे प्रवक्ष्यामस्त्वां नः प्रतिवक्ष्यसि वचः शुश्रूषतां कथायोगं नः कथायोगे।।
तत्र भगवान् कुलपतिस्तु शौनकोऽग्निशरणमध्यास्ते।
`दीर्घसत्रत्वात्सर्वाः कथाः श्रोतुं कालोस्ति।।'
यौऽसौ दिव्याः कथा वेद देवतासुरसंश्रिताः।
मनुष्योरगगन्धर्वकथा वेद च सर्वशः।।
स चाप्यस्मिन्मशे सौते विद्वान्कुलपतिर्दिवजः।
दक्षो धृतव्रतो धीमाञ्शास्त्रे चारण्यके गुरुः।।
सत्यवादी शमपरस्तपस्वी नियतव्रतः।
सर्वेषामेव नो मान्यः स तावत्प्रतिपाल्यताम्।।
तस्मिन्नध्यासति गुरावासनं परमार्चितम्।
ततो वक्ष्यसि यत्त्वां स प्रक्ष्यति द्विजसत्तमः।।
सौतिरुवाच।
एवमस्तु गुरौ तस्मिन्नुपविष्टे महात्मनि।
तेन पृष्टः कथाः पुण्या वक्ष्यामि विविधाश्रयाः।।
सोऽथ विप्रर्षभः सर्वं कृत्वा कार्यं यथाविधि।
देवान्वाग्भिः पितॄनद्भिस्तर्पयित्वाऽऽजगाम ह।।
यत्र ब्रह्मर्षयः सिद्धाः सुखासीना धृतव्रताः।
यज्ञायतनमाश्रित्य सूतपुत्रपुरस्पराः।।
ऋत्विक्ष्वथ सदस्येषु स वै गृहपतिस्तदा।
उपविष्टेषूपविष्टः शौनकोऽथाब्रवीदिदम्।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते आदिपर्वणि
पौलोमपर्वणि चतुर्थोऽध्यायः।। 4 ।।

English Ganguli

‘UGRASRAVA SAUTI, the son of Lomaharshana, versed in the Puranas, while present in the forest of Naimisha, at the twelve years’ sacrifice of Saunaka, surnamed Kulapati, stood before the Rishis in attendance. Having studied Puranas with meticulous devotion and thus being thoroughly acquainted with them, he addressed them with joined hands thus, ‘I have graphically described to you the history of Utanka which is one of the causes of King Janamejaya’s Snake-sacrifice. What, revered Sirs, do ye wish to hear now? What shall I relate to you?’ The holy men replied, ‘O son of Lomaharshana, we shall ask thee about what we are anxious to hear and thou wilt recount the tales one by one. Saunaka, our revered master, is at present attending the apartment of the holy fire. He is acquainted with those divine stories which relate to the gods and asuras. He adequately knoweth the histories of men, serpents, and Gandharvas. Further, O Sauti, in this sacrifice that learned Brahmana is the chief. He is able, faithful to his vows, wise, a master of the Sastras and the Aranyaka, a speaker of truth, a lover of peace, a mortifier of the flesh, and an observer of the penances according to the authoritative decrees. He is respected by us all. It behoveth us therefore to wait for him. And when he is seated on his highly respected seat, thou wilt answer what that best of Dwijas shall ask of thee.’

“Sauti said, ‘Be it so. And when the high-souled master hath been seated I shall narrate, questioned by him, sacred stories on a variety of subjects.” After a while that excellent Brahmana (Saunaka) having duly finished all his duties, and having propitiated the gods with prayers and the manes with oblations of water, came back to the place of sacrifice, where with Sauti seated before was the assembly of saints of rigid vows sitting at ease. And when Saunaka was seated in the midst of the Ritwiks and Sadhyas, who were also in their seats, he spake as followeth.”