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Mahābhārata • Parva 1 (Ādiparva) • Adhyāya 1

Ādiparva Adhyāya 1

आदिपर्व • अध्यायः 1

Ādiparva Adhyāya 1 of the classical Mahābhārata with 211 verses.

Total: 211 Verses • Citations: MBh 1.1.1–211 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 8 (Verses 30 shown)
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥
English Translation
Having saluted the Supreme Deity (Narayana) and the highest of all male beings (Nara) and also the Goddess of Learning (Sarasvati), let us cry success!
लोमहर्षणपुत्र उग्रश्रवाः सूतः पौराणिको नैमिषारण्ये शौनकस्य कुलपतेर्द्वादशवार्षिके सत्रे ॥
English Translation
One day when the great sages of hard austerities, who were present at the twelve years' sacrifice of Kulapati Shaunaka, were comfortably sitting in the Naimisharanya, Rishi Lomaharshana's son, Ugrashrava, popularly known as Sauti, well-read in the Puranas, came to them with all humility.
समासीनानभ्यगच्छद्ब्रह्मर्षीन्संशितव्रतान् । विनयावनतो भूत्वा कदाचित्सूतनन्दनः ॥
English Translation
One day when the great sages of hard austerities, who were present at the twelve years' sacrifice of Kulapati Shaunaka, were comfortably sitting in the Naimisharanya, Rishi Lomaharshana's son, Ugrashrava, popularly known as Sauti, well-read in the Puranas, came to them with all humility.
तमाश्रममनुप्राप्तं नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । चित्राः श्रोतुं कथास्तत्र परिवव्रुस्तपस्विनः ॥
English Translation
(Thereupon) desirous of hearing his wonderful stories, the ascetics addressed him who had come to their hermitage of Naimisharanya.
अभिवाद्य मुनींस्तांस्तु सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलिः । अपृच्छत्स तपोवृद्धिं सद्भिश्चैवाभिनन्दितः ॥
English Translation
Having been welcomed with due respect by those holy Rishis, Sauti, with joined hands, asked them all how their depute penances were progressing.
अथ तेषूपविष्टेषु सर्वेष्वेव तपस्विषु । निर्दिष्टमासनं भेजे विनयाल्लोमहर्षणिः ॥
English Translation
After the Rishis had taken their seats, Lomaharshana's son humbly took the seat assigned to him.
सुखासीनं ततस्तं तु विश्रान्तमुपलक्ष्य च । अथापृच्छदृषिस्तत्र कश्चित्प्रस्तावयन्कथाः ॥
English Translation
Seeing that he had comfortably seated and observing that he had some rest after the fatigue, one of the Rishis started the conversation, saying,
कुत आगम्यते सौते क्व चायं विहृतस्त्वया । कालः कमलपत्राक्ष शंसैतत्पृच्छतो मम ॥
English Translation
'O Lotus-eyed, whence have you came? Where have you been, Sauti? tell me, I ask you, (all the particulars of your travels).'
जनमेजयस्य राजर्षेः सर्पसत्रे महात्मनः । समीपे पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य सम्यक्पारिक्षितस्य च ॥
English Translation
Sauti said: After listening to the various sacred and wonderful stories of the Mahabharata composed by Krishna Dvaipayana those that were fully recited by Vaishampayana at the great Snake-sacrifice held by that noblehearted royal sage, the prince of all princes, the son of Parikshit, Janamejaya
कृष्णद्वैपायनप्रोक्ताः सुपुण्या विविधाः कथाः । कथिताश्चापि विधिवद्या वैशंपायनेन वै ॥
English Translation
Sauti said: After listening to the various sacred and wonderful stories of the Mahabharata composed by Krishna Dvaipayana those that were fully recited by Vaishampayana at the great Snake-sacrifice held by that noblehearted royal sage, the prince of all princes, the son of Parikshit, Janamejaya
श्रुत्वाहं ता विचित्रार्था महाभारतसंश्रिताः । बहूनि संपरिक्रम्य तीर्थान्यायतनानि च ॥
समन्तपञ्चकं नाम पुण्यं द्विजनिषेवितम् । गतवानस्मि तं देशं युद्धं यत्राभवत्पुरा । पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ॥
English Translation
And where in the days of yore the sons of Kuru and Pandu had fought a deadly battle, in which all the Chiefs of India joined one side or the other.
दिदृक्षुरागतस्तस्मात्समीपं भवतामिह । आयुष्मन्तः सर्व एव ब्रह्मभूता हि मे मताः ॥
English Translation
Being anxious to see you (all), I have now come before your (august) presence. O Revered sages, to you who are all to me as Brahma to you who are greatly learned and highly blessed, who shine with the fire of the Sun in this holy place of sacrifice, who are pure by sacred ablutions, who have performed and finished the deep meditation, who have kept up the sacred fire, who are beyond all cares, to you, O twice-born ones, what shall I speak?
अस्मिन्यज्ञे महाभागाः सूर्यपावकवर्चसः । कृताभिषेकाः शुचयः कृतजप्या हुताग्नयः । भवन्त आसते स्वस्था ब्रवीमि किमहं द्विजाः ॥
English Translation
Being anxious to see you (all), I have now come before your (august) presence. O Revered sages, to you who are all to me as Brahma to you who are greatly learned and highly blessed, who shine with the fire of the Sun in this holy place of sacrifice, who are pure by sacred ablutions, who have performed and finished the deep meditation, who have kept up the sacred fire, who are beyond all cares, to you, O twice-born ones, what shall I speak?
पुराणसंश्रिताः पुण्याः कथा वा धर्मसंश्रिताः । इतिवृत्तं नरेन्द्राणामृषीणां च महात्मनाम् ॥
English Translation
Shall I repeat to you the sacred stories of the Puranas, bearing on religious merites and worldly prosperity, or shall I recount to you the wonderful deeds of the great sages and saints and the sovereigns of mankind?
द्वैपायनेन यत्प्रोक्तं पुराणं परमर्षिणा । सुरैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिश्चैव श्रुत्वा यदभिपूजितम् ॥
English Translation
The Rishis replied The Purana which was told by the illustrious sage, Dvaipayana and which was greatly esteemed by the celestials and Brahmarshis when they heared it,
तस्याख्यानवरिष्ठस्य विचित्रपदपर्वणः । सूक्ष्मार्थन्याययुक्तस्य वेदार्थैर्भूषितस्य च ॥
English Translation
And which, being full of various dictions and divisions, is (undoubtedly) the most eminent narrative (amongst all narratives) that exist, containing (as it does) subtle and logically combined meanings, enriched with (the essence of) the Vedas, is a sacred work.
भारतस्येतिहासस्य पुण्यां ग्रन्थार्थसंयुताम् । संस्कारोपगतां ब्राह्मीं नानाशास्त्रोपबृंहिताम् ॥
English Translation
It is composed in beautiful language and it includes all other works. It is explained by all Shastras and contains the sense of the four Vedas. (But Sauti), we desire to hear Bharata, the sacred history that drives away all fear, the holy composition of great Vyasa, just as it was beautifully narrated in the great Snake-sacrifice of Raja Janamejaya by Rishi Vaishampayana as directed by Krishna Dvaipayana himself.
जनमेजयस्य यां राज्ञो वैशंपायन उक्तवान् । यथावत्स ऋषिस्तुष्ट्या सत्रे द्वैपायनाज्ञया ॥
वेदैश्चतुर्भिः समितां व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः । संहितां श्रोतुमिच्छामो धर्म्यां पापभयापहाम् ॥
आद्यं पुरुषमीशानं पुरुहूतं पुरुष्टुतम् । ऋतमेकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्यक्ताव्यक्तं सनातनम् ॥
English Translation
Sauti then said: Bowing (most reverentially) my head to the original first being Ishana, who is adored by all and to whom all make offerings, who is the true unchangeable One, who is manifested and unmanifested, eternal and everlasting Brahma.
असच्च सच्चैव च यद्विश्वं सदसतः परम् । परावराणां स्रष्टारं पुराणं परमव्ययम् ॥
English Translation
Who is both non-existing and existing, who is the existing) universe and still distinct from both the existing and the non-existing world, who is the originator of all, both high and low, who is ancient, great and undecaying.
मङ्गल्यं मङ्गलं विष्णुं वरेण्यमनघं शुचिम् । नमस्कृत्य हृषीकेशं चराचरगुरुं हरिम् ॥
English Translation
Vishnu, who is pleasing and auspicious one, who is worthy of all worship, pure and sinless, who is Hari, the lord of the faculties, the guide of all the movable and the immovable.
महर्षेः पूजितस्येह सर्वलोके महात्मनः । प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्यामिततेजसः ॥
English Translation
(O Rishis), I shall now describe to you the holy thoughts of the great Rishi of the wonderful deeds, (the sage) Vyasa, who is worshipped by all of you here.
आचख्युः कवयः केचित्संप्रत्याचक्षते परे । आख्यास्यन्ति तथैवान्ये इतिहासमिमं भुवि ॥
English Translation
Some bards have already sung this history; and some again are teaching it to others; others will no doubt do the same hereafter on earth.
इदं तु त्रिषु लोकेषु महज्ज्ञानं प्रतिष्ठितम् । विस्तरैश्च समासैश्च धार्यते यद्द्विजातिभिः ॥
English Translation
It is a great source of knowledge all through the three worlds. It is possessed by the twice-born in detailed and compendious forms.
अलंकृतं शुभैः शब्दैः समयैर्दिव्यमानुषैः । छन्दोवृत्तैश्च विविधैरन्वितं विदुषां प्रियम् ॥
English Translation
It is embellished with elegant expressions, with human and divine conversations and with various poetical metres. It is, therefore, the great delight of the learned.
निष्प्रभेऽस्मिन्निरालोके सर्वतस्तमसावृते । बृहदण्डमभूदेकं प्रजानां बीजमक्षयम् ॥
English Translation
In this universe, when there was no brightness and no light and when all was enveloped in darkness, there came into being a Mighty Egg, the one inexhaustible Seed of all created beings.
युगस्यादौ निमित्तं तन्महद्दिव्यं प्रचक्षते । यस्मिंस्तच्छ्रूयते सत्यं ज्योतिर्ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥
English Translation
It is called Mahaddivya and was created at the beginning of the Yuga. In it existed the true Light, Brahma, the eternal One, the wonderful and inconceivable Being, the omnipresent, invisible and subtle Cause, the Entity and Nonentity-natured Self.
अद्भुतं चाप्यचिन्त्यं च सर्वत्र समतां गतम् । अव्यक्तं कारणं सूक्ष्मं यत्तत्सदसदात्मकम् ॥
English Translation
It is called Mahaddivya and was created at the beginning of the Yuga. In it existed the true Light, Brahma, the eternal One, the wonderful and inconceivable Being, the omnipresent, invisible and subtle Cause, the Entity and Nonentity-natured Self.
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