The Merit of Hearing the Bharata

Verse 1 (1.62.1)

कथितं वै समासेन त्वया सर्वं द्विजोत्तम । महाभारतमाख्यानं कुरूणां चरितं महत् ॥

kathitaṃ vai samāsena tvayā sarvaṃ dvijottama | mahābhāratamākhyānaṃ kurūṇāṃ caritaṃ mahat

O best of the twice-born, you have told me in brief the whole Mahabharata, the great story of the deeds of the Kurus.

Verse 2 (1.62.2)

कथां त्वनघ चित्रार्थां कथयस्व तपोधन । विस्तरश्रवणे जातं कौतूहलमतीव मे ॥

kathāṃ tvanagha citrārthāṃ kathayasva tapodhana | vistaraśravaṇe jātaṃ kautūhalamatīva me

Now, sinless one, rich in austerity, tell me that story of wondrous meaning. A great eagerness has arisen in me to hear it in full.

Verse 3 (1.62.3)

स भवान्विस्तरेणेमां पुनराख्यातुमर्हति । न हि तृप्यामि पूर्वेषां शृण्वानश्चरितं महत् ॥

sa bhavānvistareṇemāṃ punarākhyātumarhati | na hi tṛpyāmi pūrveṣāṃ śṛṇvānaścaritaṃ mahat

So please tell it again, at length. I am never sated as I hear the great deeds of my forebears.

Verse 4 (1.62.4)

न तत्कारणमल्पं वै धर्मज्ञा यत्र पाण्डवाः । अवध्यान्सर्वशो जघ्नुः प्रशस्यन्ते च मानवैः ॥

na tatkāraṇamalpaṃ vai dharmajñā yatra pāṇḍavāḥ | avadhyānsarvaśo jaghnuḥ praśasyante ca mānavaiḥ

It can have been no slight cause for which the Pandavas, who knew dharma, slew on every side men who should not have been slain, and yet are praised by all people.

Verse 5 (1.62.5)

किमर्थं ते नरव्याघ्राः शक्ताः सन्तो ह्यनागसः । प्रयुज्यमानान्संक्लेशान्क्षान्तवन्तो दुरात्मनाम् ॥

kimarthaṃ te naravyāghrāḥ śaktāḥ santo hyanāgasaḥ | prayujyamānānsaṃkleśānkṣāntavanto durātmanām

Why did those tigers among men, blameless and fully able to strike back, patiently endure the torments that evil-minded men inflicted on them?

Verse 6 (1.62.6)

कथं नागायुतप्राणो बाहुशाली वृकोदरः । परिक्लिश्यन्नपि क्रोधं धृतवान्वै द्विजोत्तम ॥

kathaṃ nāgāyutaprāṇo bāhuśālī vṛkodaraḥ | parikliśyannapi krodhaṃ dhṛtavānvai dvijottama

How did mighty-armed Vrikodara, who had the strength of ten thousand elephants, hold back his anger even while he was being tormented, O best of the twice-born?

Verse 7 (1.62.7)

कथं सा द्रौपदी कृष्णा क्लिश्यमाना दुरात्मभिः । शक्ता सती धार्तराष्ट्रान्नादहत्क्रोधचक्षुषा ॥

kathaṃ sā draupadī kṛṣṇā kliśyamānā durātmabhiḥ | śaktā satī dhārtarāṣṭrānnādahatkrodhacakṣuṣā

How did Krishna Draupadi, a chaste woman who had the power to do it, not burn the sons of Dhritarashtra with her angry gaze when the wicked were tormenting her?

Verse 8 (1.62.8)

कथं व्यसनिनं द्यूते पार्थौ माद्रीसुतौ तदा । अन्वयुस्ते नरव्याघ्रा बाध्यमाना दुरात्मभिः ॥

kathaṃ vyasaninaṃ dyūte pārthau mādrīsutau tadā | anvayuste naravyāghrā bādhyamānā durātmabhiḥ

How did the two Parthas and the two sons of Madri, those tigers among men, follow their brother who was caught up in the dice, even as the wicked oppressed them?

Verse 9 (1.62.9)

कथं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठः सुतो धर्मस्य धर्मवित् । अनर्हः परमं क्लेशं सोढवान्स युधिष्ठिरः ॥

kathaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ suto dharmasya dharmavit | anarhaḥ paramaṃ kleśaṃ soḍhavānsa yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

How did Yudhishthira, best of those who uphold dharma, the son of Dharma and a knower of dharma, bear such extreme suffering, which he did not deserve?

Verse 10 (1.62.10)

कथं च बहुलाः सेनाः पाण्डवः कृष्णसारथिः । अस्यन्नेकोऽनयत्सर्वाः पितृलोकं धनंजयः ॥

kathaṃ ca bahulāḥ senāḥ pāṇḍavaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ | asyanneko'nayatsarvāḥ pitṛlokaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ

And how did the Pandava Dhananjaya, with Krishna as his charioteer, shooting alone, send all those vast armies to the world of the ancestors?

Verse 11 (1.62.11)

एतदाचक्ष्व मे सर्वं यथावृत्तं तपोधन । यद्यच्च कृतवन्तस्ते तत्रतत्र महारथाः ॥

etadācakṣva me sarvaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ tapodhana | yadyacca kṛtavantaste tatratatra mahārathāḥ

Tell me all of this just as it happened, O rich in austerity, and whatever those great chariot-warriors did at every turn.

Verse 12 (1.62.12)

क्षणं कुरु महाराज विपुलोऽयमनुक्रमः । पुण्याख्यानस्य वक्तव्यः कृष्णद्वैपायनेरितः ॥

kṣaṇaṃ kuru mahārāja vipulo'yamanukramaḥ | puṇyākhyānasya vaktavyaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyaneritaḥ

Wait a moment, great king. Long is the sequence to be told of this holy story as Krishna Dvaipayana spoke it.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (1.62.13)

महर्षेः सर्वलोकेषु पूजितस्य महात्मनः । प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्यामिततेजसः ॥

maharṣeḥ sarvalokeṣu pūjitasya mahātmanaḥ | pravakṣyāmi mataṃ kṛtsnaṃ vyāsasyāmitatejasaḥ

I shall set out in full the thought of Vyasa, the great-souled seer of boundless splendour, who is honoured in all the worlds.

Verse 14 (1.62.14)

इदं शतसहस्रं हि श्लोकानां पुण्यकर्मणाम् । सत्यवत्यात्मजेनेह व्याख्यातममितौजसा ॥

idaṃ śatasahasraṃ hi ślokānāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām | satyavatyātmajeneha vyākhyātamamitaujasā

For this work of a hundred thousand verses, telling of men of holy deeds, was composed by the son of Satyavati, whose might is beyond measure.

Verse 15 (1.62.15)

उपाख्यानैः सह ज्ञेयं श्राव्यं भारतमुत्तमम् । संक्षेपेण तु वक्ष्यामि सर्वमेतन्नराधिप ॥

upākhyānaiḥ saha jñeyaṃ śrāvyaṃ bhāratamuttamam | saṃkṣepeṇa tu vakṣyāmi sarvametannarādhipa

This excellent Bharata, together with its subsidiary tales, is to be known and to be heard. But I shall tell you all of it in brief, lord of men.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick) at the start of the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 16 (1.62.16)

अध्यायानां सहस्रे द्वे पर्वणां शतमेव च । श्लोकानां तु सहस्राणि नवतिश्च दशैव च । ततोऽष्टादशभिः पर्वैः संगृहीतं महर्षिणा ॥

adhyāyānāṃ sahasre dve parvaṇāṃ śatameva ca | ślokānāṃ tu sahasrāṇi navatiśca daśaiva ca | tato'ṣṭādaśabhiḥ parvaiḥ saṃgṛhītaṃ maharṣiṇā

It has two thousand chapters and a hundred sub-books, and its verses number ninety thousand and ten thousand more. The great seer then gathered it into eighteen books.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (closing quote) at the end of the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 17 (1.62.17)

य इदं श्रावयेद्विद्वान्ये चेदं शृणुयुर्नराः । ते ब्रह्मणः स्थानमेत्य प्राप्नुयुर्देवतुल्यताम् ॥

ya idaṃ śrāvayedvidvānye cedaṃ śṛṇuyurnarāḥ | te brahmaṇaḥ sthānametya prāpnuyurdevatulyatām

The learned man who recites this, and the men who hear it, reach the abode of Brahma and become equal to the gods.

Verse 18 (1.62.18)

इदं हि वेदैः समितं पवित्रमपि चोत्तमम् । श्राव्याणामुत्तमं चेदं पुराणमृषिसंस्तुतम् ॥

idaṃ hi vedaiḥ samitaṃ pavitramapi cottamam | śrāvyāṇāmuttamaṃ cedaṃ purāṇamṛṣisaṃstutam

For this is equal to the Vedas, purifying and supreme. Of all things worth hearing it is the best: an ancient lore praised by the seers.

Verse 19 (1.62.19)

अस्मिन्नर्थश्च कामश्च निखिलेनोपदेक्ष्यते । इतिहासे महापुण्ये बुद्धिश्च परिनैष्ठिकी ॥

asminnarthaśca kāmaśca nikhilenopadekṣyate | itihāse mahāpuṇye buddhiśca parinaiṣṭhikī

In this most holy history wealth and desire are taught in full, and so is the understanding that leads to the final goal.

Verse 20 (1.62.20)

अक्षुद्रान्दानशीलांश्च सत्यशीलाननास्तिकान् । कार्ष्णं वेदमिमं विद्वाञ्छ्रावयित्वाऽर्थमश्नुते ॥

akṣudrāndānaśīlāṃśca satyaśīlānanāstikān | kārṣṇaṃ vedamimaṃ vidvāñchrāvayitvā'rthamaśnute

The learned man who recites this Veda of Krishna Dvaipayana to people who are large-hearted, generous, truthful and believing gains what he seeks.

Verse 21 (1.62.21)

भ्रूणहत्याकृतं चापि पापं जह्यादसंशयम् । इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा पुरुषोऽपि सुदारुणः ॥

bhrūṇahatyākṛtaṃ cāpi pāpaṃ jahyādasaṃśayam | itihāsamimaṃ śrutvā puruṣo'pi sudāruṇaḥ

Even a most cruel man, on hearing this history, would surely shed even the sin of killing an unborn child;

Verse 22 (1.62.22)

मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो राहुणा चन्द्रमा यथा । जयो नामेतिहासोऽयं श्रोतव्यो विजिगीषुणा ॥

mucyate sarvapāpebhyo rāhuṇā candramā yathā | jayo nāmetihāso'yaṃ śrotavyo vijigīṣuṇā

he is freed from all sins as the moon is freed from Rahu. This history is called Jaya, "Victory"; one who seeks victory should hear it.

Note on the text: First line not in the critical edition; second line = CE 1.56.19ab. From here to verse 24 Wikisource's verse division runs half a verse out of step with the critical edition's.

Verse 23 (1.62.23)

महीं विजयते राजा शत्रूंश्चापि पराजयेत् । इदं पुंसवनं श्रेष्ठमिदं स्वस्त्ययनं महत् ॥

mahīṃ vijayate rājā śatrūṃścāpi parājayet | idaṃ puṃsavanaṃ śreṣṭhamidaṃ svastyayanaṃ mahat

By it a king conquers the earth and defeats his enemies as well. This is the best rite for obtaining a son, and a great bringer of blessing.

Note on the text: = CE 1.56.19cd + 1.56.20ab (verse division offset by a half-line).

Verse 24 (1.62.24)

महिषीयुवराजाभ्यां श्रोतव्यं बहुशस्तथा । वीरं जनयते पुत्रं कन्यां वा राज्यभागिनीम् ॥

mahiṣīyuvarājābhyāṃ śrotavyaṃ bahuśastathā | vīraṃ janayate putraṃ kanyāṃ vā rājyabhāginīm

The chief queen and the crown prince should hear it many times. The queen who hears it bears a heroic son, or a daughter who will share in a kingdom.

Note on the text: First line = CE 1.56.20cd; second line not in the critical edition.

Verse 25 (1.62.25)

धर्मशास्त्रमिदं पुण्यमर्थशास्त्रमिदं परम् । मोक्षशास्त्रमिदं प्रोक्तं व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना ॥

dharmaśāstramidaṃ puṇyamarthaśāstramidaṃ param | mokṣaśāstramidaṃ proktaṃ vyāsenāmitabuddhinā

This is a holy treatise on dharma, a supreme treatise on wealth, and a treatise on liberation: so it was declared by Vyasa of boundless wisdom.

Verse 26 (1.62.26)

धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च मोक्षे च भरतर्षभ । यदिहास्ति तदन्यत्र यन्नेहास्ति न कुत्रचित् । इदं हि ब्राह्मणैर्लोके आख्यातं ब्राह्मणेष्विह ॥

dharme cārthe ca kāme ca mokṣe ca bharatarṣabha | yadihāsti tadanyatra yannehāsti na kutracit | idaṃ hi brāhmaṇairloke ākhyātaṃ brāhmaṇeṣviha

O bull among the Bharatas, whatever is found here on dharma, wealth, desire and liberation is found elsewhere; what is not here is found nowhere. Brahmins have told it in the world, among brahmins.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (opening backtick, closing quote). Lines 1–2 = CE 1.56.33; the third line is not in the critical edition.

Verse 27 (1.62.27)

संप्रत्याचक्षते चेदं तथा श्रोष्यन्ति चापरे । पुत्राः शुश्रूषवः सन्ति प्रेष्याश्च प्रियकारिणः ॥

saṃpratyācakṣate cedaṃ tathā śroṣyanti cāpare | putrāḥ śuśrūṣavaḥ santi preṣyāśca priyakāriṇaḥ

People recite it now, and others will hear it in time to come. Those who hear it have dutiful sons and servants who do what pleases them.

Verse 28 (1.62.28)

भरतानां महज्जन्म शृण्वतामनसूयताम् । नास्ति व्याधिभयं तेषां परलोकभयं कुतः ॥

bharatānāṃ mahajjanma śṛṇvatāmanasūyatām | nāsti vyādhibhayaṃ teṣāṃ paralokabhayaṃ kutaḥ

Those who hear without envy of the great birth of the Bharatas have no fear of disease; how then could they fear the world beyond?

Verse 29 (1.62.29)

शरीरेण कृतं पापं वाचा च मनसैव च । सर्वं संत्यजति क्षिप्रं य इदं शृणुयान्नरः ॥

śarīreṇa kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ vācā ca manasaiva ca | sarvaṃ saṃtyajati kṣipraṃ ya idaṃ śṛṇuyānnaraḥ

Whatever sin has been done by body, by speech or by mind, the man who hears this quickly casts all of it away.

Verse 30 (1.62.30)

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुण्यं स्वर्ग्यं तथैव च । कृष्णद्वैपायनेनेदं कृतं पुण्यचिकीर्षुणा ॥

dhanyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ puṇyaṃ svargyaṃ tathaiva ca | kṛṣṇadvaipāyanenedaṃ kṛtaṃ puṇyacikīrṣuṇā

It brings wealth, fame, long life, merit and heaven. Krishna Dvaipayana made it in his wish to create merit,

Verse 31 (1.62.31)

कीर्तिं प्रथयता लोके पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् । अन्येषां क्षत्रियाणां च भूरिद्रविणतेजसाम् ॥

kīrtiṃ prathayatā loke pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām | anyeṣāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ ca bhūridraviṇatejasām

spreading through the world the fame of the great-souled Pandavas and of other kshatriyas rich in wealth and splendour,

Verse 32 (1.62.32)

सर्वविद्यावदातानां लोके प्रथितकर्मणाम् । य इदं मानवो लोके पुण्यार्थे ब्राह्मणाञ्छुचीन् ॥

sarvavidyāvadātānāṃ loke prathitakarmaṇām | ya idaṃ mānavo loke puṇyārthe brāhmaṇāñchucīn

men made bright by every kind of learning, whose deeds are renowned in the world. The man in this world who, for the sake of merit, has pure brahmins

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 33 (1.62.33)

श्रावयेत महापुण्यं तस्य धर्मः सनातनः । कुरूणां प्रथितं वंशं कीर्तयन्सततं शुचिः ॥

śrāvayeta mahāpuṇyaṃ tasya dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | kurūṇāṃ prathitaṃ vaṃśaṃ kīrtayansatataṃ śuciḥ

hear this most holy work gains eternal dharma. He who, being pure, constantly recounts the famous line of the Kurus

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 34 (1.62.34)

वंशमाप्नोति विपुलं लोके पूज्यतमो भवेत् । योऽधीते भारतं पुण्यं ब्राह्मणो नियतव्रतः ॥

vaṃśamāpnoti vipulaṃ loke pūjyatamo bhavet | yo'dhīte bhārataṃ puṇyaṃ brāhmaṇo niyatavrataḥ

gains a large line of descendants and becomes most honoured in the world. The brahmin of steady vows who studies the holy Bharata

Note on the text: Corrected पुम्यं → पुण्यं (misprint in Wikisource; म for ण). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 35 (1.62.35)

चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । विज्ञेयः स च वेदानां पारगो भारतं पठन् ॥

caturo vārṣikānmāsānsarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate | vijñeyaḥ sa ca vedānāṃ pārago bhārataṃ paṭhan

through the four months of the rains is freed from all sins. One who reads the Bharata is to be known as one who has crossed to the far shore of the Vedas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 36 (1.62.36)

देवा राजर्षयो ह्यत्र पुण्या ब्रह्मर्षयस्तथा । कीर्त्यन्ते धूतपाप्मानः कीर्त्यते केशवस्तथा ॥

devā rājarṣayo hyatra puṇyā brahmarṣayastathā | kīrtyante dhūtapāpmānaḥ kīrtyate keśavastathā

Here the gods are celebrated, and the royal seers, and the holy brahmin seers cleansed of sin; here Keshava too is celebrated.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 37 (1.62.37)

भगवांश्चापि देवेशो यत्र देवी च कीर्त्यते । अनेकजननो यत्र कार्तिकेयस्य संभवः ॥

bhagavāṃścāpi deveśo yatra devī ca kīrtyate | anekajanano yatra kārtikeyasya saṃbhavaḥ

Here the Lord, ruler of the gods, is praised, and the Goddess too; here is told the birth of Kartikeya, who had many mothers.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 38 (1.62.38)

ब्राह्मणानां गवां चैव माहात्म्यं यत्र कीर्त्यते । सर्वश्रुतिसमूहोऽयं श्रोतव्यो धर्मबुद्धिभिः ॥

brāhmaṇānāṃ gavāṃ caiva māhātmyaṃ yatra kīrtyate | sarvaśrutisamūho'yaṃ śrotavyo dharmabuddhibhiḥ

Here the greatness of brahmins and of cows is proclaimed. This is a gathering of all sacred lore, to be heard by those whose minds are set on dharma.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 39 (1.62.39)

य इदं श्रावयेद्विद्वान्ब्राह्मणानिह पर्वसु । धूतपाप्मा जितस्वर्गो ब्रह्म गच्छति शाश्वतम् ॥

ya idaṃ śrāvayedvidvānbrāhmaṇāniha parvasu | dhūtapāpmā jitasvargo brahma gacchati śāśvatam

The learned man who recites this to brahmins on the holy days of the lunar month is cleansed of sin, wins heaven and goes to eternal Brahman.

Verse 40 (1.62.40)

श्रावयेद्ब्राह्मणाञ्श्राद्धे यश्चेमं पादमन्ततः । अक्षय्यं तस्य तच्छ्राद्धमुपावर्तेत्पितॄनिह ॥

śrāvayedbrāhmaṇāñśrāddhe yaścemaṃ pādamantataḥ | akṣayyaṃ tasya tacchrāddhamupāvartetpitṝniha

If a man has brahmins hear even a quarter-verse of it at the end of a rite for the ancestors, that rite of his becomes inexhaustible and reaches his ancestors.

Verse 41 (1.62.41)

अह्ना यदेनः क्रियते इन्द्रियैर्मनसाऽपि वा । ज्ञानादज्ञानतो वापि प्रकरोति नरश्च यत् ॥

ahnā yadenaḥ kriyate indriyairmanasā'pi vā | jñānādajñānato vāpi prakaroti naraśca yat

Whatever sin a man commits in the course of a day, through the senses or through the mind, knowingly or unknowingly,

Note on the text: An expanded variant of CE 1.56.30ab.

Verse 42 (1.62.42)

तन्महाभारताख्यानं श्रुत्वैव प्रविलीयते । भरतानां महज्जन्म महाभारतमुच्यते ॥

tanmahābhāratākhyānaṃ śrutvaiva pravilīyate | bharatānāṃ mahajjanma mahābhāratamucyate

melts away the moment he hears the story of the Mahabharata. The great birth of the Bharatas is called the Mahabharata.

Note on the text: = CE 1.56.30cd + 1.56.31ab.

Verse 43 (1.62.43)

निरुक्तमस्य यो वेद सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । भरतानां महज्जन्म महाभारतमुच्यते ॥

niruktamasya yo veda sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate | bharatānāṃ mahajjanma mahābhāratamucyate

One who knows this explanation of its name is freed from all sins. The great birth of the Bharatas is called the Mahabharata.

Note on the text: First line = CE 1.56.31cd. The second line repeats the second line of verse 42 as printed in Wikisource; kept as printed.

Verse 44 (1.62.44)

महतो ह्येनसो मर्त्यान्मोचयेदनुकीर्तितः । त्रिभिर्वर्षैर्महाभागः कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् ॥

mahato hyenaso martyānmocayedanukīrtitaḥ | tribhirvarṣairmahābhāgaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyano'bravīt

Recited, it frees mortals from great sin. The illustrious Krishna Dvaipayana spoke it over three years,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 45 (1.62.45)

नित्योत्थितः शुचिः शक्तो महाभारतमादितः । तपोनियममास्थाय कृतमेतन्महर्षिणा ॥

nityotthitaḥ śuciḥ śakto mahābhāratamāditaḥ | taponiyamamāsthāya kṛtametanmaharṣiṇā

rising early each day, pure and able: the Mahabharata from its beginning. The great seer made it while holding to austerity and discipline.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 46 (1.62.46)

तस्मान्नियमसंयुक्तैः श्रोतव्यं ब्राह्मणैरिदम् । कृष्णप्रोक्तामिमां पुण्यां भारतीमुत्तमां कथाम् ॥

tasmānniyamasaṃyuktaiḥ śrotavyaṃ brāhmaṇairidam | kṛṣṇaproktāmimāṃ puṇyāṃ bhāratīmuttamāṃ kathām

Therefore brahmins should hear it while keeping their vows: this holy and excellent story of the Bharatas, told by Krishna Dvaipayana.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 47 (1.62.47)

श्रावयिष्यन्ति ये विप्रा ये च श्रोष्यन्ति मानवाः । सर्वथा वर्तमाना वै न ते शोच्याः कृताकृतैः ॥

śrāvayiṣyanti ye viprā ye ca śroṣyanti mānavāḥ | sarvathā vartamānā vai na te śocyāḥ kṛtākṛtaiḥ

The brahmins who will recite it and the men who will hear it, however they may live, need not grieve over what they have done or left undone.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 48 (1.62.48)

नरेण धर्मकामेन सर्वः श्रोतव्य इत्यपि । निखिलेनेतिहासोऽयं ततः सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् ॥

nareṇa dharmakāmena sarvaḥ śrotavya ityapi | nikhilenetihāso'yaṃ tataḥ siddhimavāpnuyāt

A man who desires dharma should hear this history entire, in every part; by that he will reach fulfilment.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 49 (1.62.49)

न तां स्वर्गगतिं प्राप्य तुष्टिं प्राप्नोति मानवः । यां श्रुत्वैवं महापुण्यमितिहासमुपाश्नुते ॥

na tāṃ svargagatiṃ prāpya tuṣṭiṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ | yāṃ śrutvaivaṃ mahāpuṇyamitihāsamupāśnute

Not even on reaching heaven does a man find such contentment as he gains on hearing this most holy history.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 50 (1.62.50)

शृण्वञ्श्राद्धः पुण्यशीलः श्रावयंश्चेदमद्भुतम् । नरः फलमवाप्नोति राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः ॥

śṛṇvañśrāddhaḥ puṇyaśīlaḥ śrāvayaṃścedamadbhutam | naraḥ phalamavāpnoti rājasūyāśvamedhayoḥ

A man of faith and good conduct who hears or recites this wonderful work gains the fruit of the Rajasuya and the horse sacrifice.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 51 (1.62.51)

यथा समुद्रो भगवान्यथा मेरुर्महागिरिः । उभौ ख्यातौ रत्ननिधी तथा भारतमुच्यते ॥

yathā samudro bhagavānyathā merurmahāgiriḥ | ubhau khyātau ratnanidhī tathā bhāratamucyate

As the blessed ocean and Meru, the great mountain, are both famed as treasuries of jewels, so is the Bharata said to be.

Verse 52 (1.62.52)

इदं हि वेदैः समितं पवित्रमपि चोत्तमम् । श्राव्यं श्रुतिसुखं चैव पावनं शीलवर्धनम् ॥

idaṃ hi vedaiḥ samitaṃ pavitramapi cottamam | śrāvyaṃ śrutisukhaṃ caiva pāvanaṃ śīlavardhanam

For this is equal to the Vedas, purifying and supreme; it is worth hearing, pleasing to the ear, cleansing, and it strengthens good character.

Note on the text: Corrected पवित्रमषि → पवित्रमपि (misprint in Wikisource; ष for प). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 53 (1.62.53)

य इदं भारतं राजन्वाचकाय प्रयच्छति । तेन सर्वा मही दत्ता भवेत्सागरमेखला ॥

ya idaṃ bhārataṃ rājanvācakāya prayacchati | tena sarvā mahī dattā bhavetsāgaramekhalā

O king, one who gives this Bharata to a reciter has given away the whole earth with the ocean for its girdle.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 54 (1.62.54)

पारिक्षित कथां दिव्यां पुण्याय विजयाय च । कथ्यमानां मया कृत्स्नां शृणु हर्षकरीमिमाम् ॥

pārikṣita kathāṃ divyāṃ puṇyāya vijayāya ca | kathyamānāṃ mayā kṛtsnāṃ śṛṇu harṣakarīmimām

Son of Parikshit, hear this divine story that brings joy, which I shall tell you in full, for merit and for victory.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 55 (1.62.55)

त्रिभिर्वर्षैः सदोत्थायी कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः । महाभारतमाख्यानं कृतवानिदमद्भुतम् ॥

tribhirvarṣaiḥ sadotthāyī kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ | mahābhāratamākhyānaṃ kṛtavānidamadbhutam

Rising early always, the sage Krishna Dvaipayana made this wonderful story, the Mahabharata, over three years.

Verse 56 (1.62.56)

शृणु कीर्तयतस्तन्म इतिहासं पुरातनम् ॥

śṛṇu kīrtayatastanma itihāsaṃ purātanam

Hear, then, as I recount that ancient history.

Note on the text: A single half-verse in Wikisource. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).