Adiparva Translation

आचख्युः कवयः केचित् संप्रत्याचक्षते परे। आख्यास्यन्ति तथैवान्ये इतिहासमिमं भुवि॥२६॥ आचख्युः = sung कवयः केचित् = some bards संप्रति = now आचक्षते परे = others retell आख्यास्यन्ति = they teach तथा एव = the same अन्ये = others इतिहासम् इमम् = this history भुवि = on the earth 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.

महर्षेः पूजितस्येह सर्वलोकैर्महात्मनः। प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं पुण्यं व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः॥२५॥ महर्षेः = of the rishi पूजितस्य = of the one who is worhsipped इह = here सर्व-लोकैः = by all महात्मनः = of the great soul Vyasa प्रवक्ष्यामि = I shall describe मतम् = thoughts पुण्यम् = holy व्यासस्य = of Vyasa अद्भुत-कर्मणः = one who performs wonderful deeds (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.

मङ्गल्यं मङ्गलं विष्णुं वरेण्यमनघं शुचिम्। नमस्कृत्य हृषीकेशं चराचरगुरुं हरिम्॥२४॥ मङ्गल्यम् = pleasing मङ्गलम् = auspicious one विष्णुम् = Vishnu वरेण्यम् = worthy of all worship अनघम् = sinless शुचिम् = pure नमस्कृत्य = having saluted हृषीकेशम् = the lord of the senses चर-अचर-गुरुम् = the guide of all the movable and the immovable हरिम् =Hari Vishnu, who is pleasing and auspicious one, who is worthy of all worship, pure and sinless, who is Hari, the lord of the senses, the guide of all the movable and the immovable.

असच्चसदसच्चैव यद् विश्वं सदसत्परम्। परावराणां स्रष्टारं पुराणं परमव्ययम्॥२३॥ असत् = non-existing च = and सत् = existing असत् = non-existing च एव = and यत् = which विश्वम् = univers सत् = existig असत् = non-existing परम् = distrinct परावराणाम् = both high and low स्रष्टारम् = originator पुराणम् = ancient परम् = great अव्ययम् = undecaying 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. 

सौतिरुवाच आद्यं पुरुषमीशानं पुरुहूतं पुरुष्टुतम्। ऋतमेकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्यक्ताव्यक्तं सनातनम्॥२२॥ सौतिः = Sauti(son of a suta, Ugrashravas) उवाच = spoke आद्यम् = original पुरुषम् = being ईशानम् = Ishana पुरुहूतम् = invoked by many पुरुष्टुतम् = praised by many ऋतम् = true एकाक्षरम् = has one-word as a name ब्रह्म = Brahman व्यक्त-अव्यक्तम् = manifested-unmanifested= that which is manifested and not at the same time सनातनम् = eternal 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.

वेदैश्चतुर्भिः संयुक्तां व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः। संहितां श्रोतुमिच्छामो धर्म्यां पापभयापहाम्।।२१।। वेदैः चतुर्भिः = by the four Vedas संयुक्ताम् = that which is endowed with व्यासस्य = of Vyasa अद्भुत-कर्मणः = of the great-work = of the one who did great deeds (Vyasa) संहिताम् = composition श्रोतुम् इच्छामः = we wish to hear धर्म्याम् = the holy पाप-भय-अपहाम् = sin-fear-remover => the which removes the fear and sin the rishis continued, "We wish to hear the holy composition that removes fear and sin, endowed with the four vedas composed by Vyasa, the doer of amazing deeds."

जनमेजयस्य यां राज्ञो वैशंपायन उक्तवान्। यथावत् स ऋषिस्तुष्ट्या सत्रे द्वैपायनाज्ञया॥२०॥ जनमेजयस्य = of Janamejaya याम् = which राज्ञः = of the King वैशंपायनः = Vaishampayana उक्तवान् = said यथावत् = suitably सः = He ऋषिः = the rishi तुष्ट्या = out of contentment सत्रे = in the yajna द्वैपायन-आज्ञया = by the command of Vyasa the rishis continued, "which Vaishampayana suitably recounted by the command of his guru Vyasa in King Janamejaya's yajna"

भारतस्येतिहासस्य पुण्यां ग्रन्थार्थसंयुताम्। संस्कारोपगतां ब्राह्मीं नानाशास्त्रोपबृंहिताम्॥१९॥ भारतस्य = of the account of the Bharata race इतिहासस्य =  of the history पुण्याम् = holy ग्रन्थ-अर्थ-संयुताम् = literary-work-meaning-endowed => endowed with the meanings of the shastras संस्कार-उपगताम् = samskara-subject-to => subject to the samskaras ब्राह्मीम् = holy नाना-शास्त्र-उपबृंहिताम् = many-shastras-invigorated => invigorated by the many shastras The rishis continued, "of the holy, sanctified history of the Bharata race, endowed with and invigorated by the meanings of the many shastras."

तस्याख्यानवरिष्ठस्य विचित्रपदपर्वणः। सूक्ष्मार्थन्याययुक्तस्य वेदार्थैर्भूषितस्य च॥१८॥ तस्य = his (Vyasa's) आख्यान-वरिष्ठस्य = narrative-eminent = of the eminent-narrative विचित्र-पद-पर्वणः = of multiple-meaning-diction-chapters => of the one with multiple meanings, dictions and chapters सूक्ष्म-अर्थ-न्याय-युक्तस्य = subtle-meaning-nyaya-endowed => of the one that is endowed with subtle meanigns of nyaya वेद-अर्थैः = by veda-meanings => by vedic meanings भूषितस्य = of the one adorned (with Vedic meanings) च = and The rishis continued, "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."

ऋषय ऊचुः द्वैपायनेन यत् प्रोक्तं पुराणं परमर्षिणा। सुरैर्ब्रहार्षिभिश्रव श्रुत्वा यदभिपूजितम्।। १७॥ ऋषयः ऊचुः = rishis said द्वैपायनेन = by Dvaipayana(Vyasa) यत् = which प्रोक्तम् = was said पुराणम् = the Purana परम्-ऋषिणा = by the great-rishi सुरैः = by the gods ब्रहार्षिभिः = by Brahmarishis च एव = and श्रुत्वा = having heard यत् = which अभिपूजितम् = celebrated 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."

पुराणसंहिताः पुण्याः कथा धर्मार्थसंश्रिताः। इतिवृत्तं नरेन्द्राणामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्॥१६॥ पुराण-संहिताः पुण्याः कथाः = sacred stories of the Purana-collections धर्म-अर्थ-संश्रिताः = dharma-merit-proper => (stories) associated with the merits of Dharma इतिवृत्तम् = event नरेन्द्राणाम् = of King ऋषीणाम् = of Rishis च = and महात्मनाम् = of great souls Sauti continued, "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??

कृताभिषेकाः शुचयः कृतजप्याहुताग्नयः। भवन्त आसने स्वस्था ब्रवीमि किमहं द्विजाः॥१५॥ कृत-अभिषेकाः = done-ablutions => those who performed religious ablutions शुचयः = purified ones कृत-जप्य-आहुत-अग्नयः = done-prayer-oblation-fires => those who have kept up the sacred fire by prayer and oblations भवन्तः = you all आसने =  in the seat स्वस्थाः = pure ones ब्रवीमि किम् अहम् = what do i say द्विजाः = o twice-born ones Sauti continued, "You are purified by performing religious ablutions. You have maintained the sacred fires by prayers and oblations. You are healthy(pure). In this seat what do I say, o twice-born ones?"

दिदृक्षुरागतस्तस्मात् समीपं भवतामिह। आयुष्मन्तः सर्व एव ब्रह्मभूता हि मे मताः। अस्मिन् यज्ञे महाभागाः सूर्यपावकवर्चसः॥१४॥ दिदृक्षुः = (I was) anxious to see आगतः = (I) came तस्मात् = therefore समीपम् = near भवताम् = of you people इह = here आयुष्मन्तः = highly blessed सर्वे = all एव = indeed ब्रह्मभूताः = like Brahma हि = indeed मे = to me मताः = considered अस्मिन् = in this यज्ञे = in the yajna महाभागाः = gentlemen सूर्य-पावक-वर्चसः = sun-fire-shine => the ones shining with fire of the sun Sauti continued, "Being anxious to see you (all), I have therefore come near you all in this yagna. You are all highly-blessed. To me you are like Brahma. You shine as if with the fire of the sun."

गतवानस्मि तं देशं युद्धं यत्राभवत् पुरा ! कुरूणां-पाण्डवानां च सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्॥१३॥ गतवान् अस्मि = (I) went तम् देशम् = to that country युद्धम् = war यत्र = where अभवत् = happened पुरा = before कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च = of Pandavas and the Kauravas सर्वेषाम् = of all च = and महीक्षिताम् = of the chiefs Sauti continued, "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."

बहूनि संपरिक्रम्य तीर्थान्यायतनानि च। समन्तपञ्चकं नाम पुण्यं द्विजनिषेवितम्॥ १२॥ बहूनि = many संपरिक्रम्य = having visited तीर्थानि = holy places of pilgrimages आयतनानि = holy shrines च समन्तपञ्चकम् = samantapanchaka नाम = by name पुण्यम् = holy (samantapanchaka) द्विज-निषेवितम् = twice-born-venerated = venerated by twice-borns (samantapanchaka) (O holy Rishis), I wandered about and visited many holy shrines and places of pilgrimages and came (at last) to Samantapanchaka, a place venerated by the twice-born,

कथिताश्चापि विधिवद् या वैशम्पायनेन वै। श्रुत्वाऽहं ता विचित्रार्था महाभारतसंश्रिताः॥११॥ कथिताः = those that are retold च अपि = and also विधिवत् = as per shastras याः = which (stories)  वैशम्पायनेन = by Vaishampayana  वै श्रुत्वा = having heard (the stories) अहम् = I ताः = those विचित्र-अर्थाः = those that have diverse-meaning = stories with diverse meanings महाभारत-संश्रिताः = Mahabharata-concerning = stories concerning Mahabharata Sauti continued, "I heard those stories that were retold by Vaishampayana that contained diverse interpretations and were connected to the Mahabharata"

समीपे पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य सम्यक् पारिक्षितस्य च। कृष्णद्वैपायनप्रोक्ताः सुपुण्या विविधाः कथाः॥१०॥ समीपे = near पार्थिव-इन्द्रस्य = of the early-lord = of the king Janamejaya सम्यक् = well पारिक्षितस्य = son of Parikshit, Janamejaya च = and कृष्ण-द्वैपायन-प्रोक्ताः = black-island-born-uttered = (accounts) uttered by Krishna, the island-born (Veda Vyasa) सुपुण्याः विविधाः कथाः = holy, varied accounts Sauti continued, "Near King Janamejaya, the holy and variedstories uttered by Veda Vyasa"

तस्मिन् सदसि विस्तीर्णे मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्। सौतिरुवाच जनमेजयस्य राजर्षेः सर्पसत्रे महात्मनः ॥ ९॥ तस्मिन् सदसि = in that assembly विस्तीर्णे = long/broad (assembly) मुनीनाम् = of the rishis भावित-आत्मनाम् = of the purified-souls (rishis) सौतिः(उग्रश्रवाः) उवाच(उक्तवान्) = Sauti(Ugrashravas) said जनमेजयस्य = of Janamejaya राजर्षेः = of the Rajarshi (Janamejaya) सर्पसत्रे = in the snake-sacrifice महात्मनः = of the great soul (Janamejaya) in that broad assembly of the rishis who were purified souls. Ugrashravas said, "in the snake sacrifice of the great soul and rajarshi Janamejaya"

एवं पृष्टोऽब्रवीत् सम्यग् यथावल्लौमहर्षणिः। वाक्यं वचनसंपन्नस्तेषां च चरिताश्रयम्॥८॥ एवम् = thus पृष्टः = asked (Ugrashravas) अब्रवीत् = (Ugrashravas) said सम्यक् = well यथावत् = proper लौमहर्षणिः = Lomaharshana's son (Ugrashravas) वाक्यम् = (Ugrashravas said) statement or reply वचन-सम्पन्नः = speech-accomplished = accomplished speaker Ugrashravas तेषाम् = theirs च = and चरित-आश्रयम् = speech that is explanation-repository = the speech that contained suitable explanation When the accomplished speaker Ugrashravas was thus questioned, he gave a well and proper reply containing in words becoming their nature before their

कुत आगम्यते सौते क्व चायं विहृतस्त्वया। कालः कमलपत्राक्ष शंसैतत्पृच्छतो मम॥७॥ कुतः आगम्यते सौते = from where arrived (by you), oh ugrashravas क्व = where च = and अयम् = this (time) विहृतः = spent त्वया = by you कालः = time कमल-पत्र-अक्ष = lotus-leaf-eye => oh lotus leaf eyed Ugrashravas शंस = tell एतत् = this पृच्छतः मम = (question) of mine who is asking (you) 'O Lotus-eyed, whence have you came? Where have you been, Sauti? tell me, I ask you, (all the particulars of your travels).'

सुखासीनं ततस्तं तु विश्रान्तमुपलक्ष्य च। अथापृच्छदृषिस्तत्र कश्चित् प्रस्तावयन् कथाः॥६॥   सुख-आसीनम् = comfortable-seated = Ugrashravas was comfortably seated ततः = then तम् = Ugrashravas तु विश्रान्तम् = Ugrashravas taking rest उपलक्ष्य = (a certain rishi) having observed (Ugrashravas taking rest) च = and अथ = then अपृच्छत्  ऋषिः = (a rishi) asked (stories) तत्र = there कश्चित् = a certain someone (rishi) प्रस्तावयन् = (rishi) introducing as a topic or starting the conversation कथाः = stories   Seeing that he had comfortably seated and observing that he had some rest after the fatigue, one of the Rishis started the conversation, asking for stories.

अथ तेषूपविष्टेषु सर्वेष्वेव तपस्विषु। निर्दिष्टमासनं भेजे विनयाल्लौमहर्षणिः॥ अथ = then तेषु = among all those (sages) उपविष्टेषु = among all the seated (sages) सर्वेषु = among all the (sages) एव तपस्विषु = among the sages निर्दिष्टम् = assigned आसनम् = seat भेजे(भक्तवान्) = (Ugrasgravas) chose, accepted (the seat) विनयात् = out of humility लौमहर्षणिः = Lomaharshana's son, Ugrashravas  After the Rishis had taken their seats, Lomaharshana's son humbly took the seat assigned to him.

अभिवाद्य मुनींस्तांस्तु सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलिः। अपृच्छत् स तपोवृद्धि सद्भिश्चैवाभिपूजितः॥ ४॥ अभिवाद्य मुनीन् तान् = having saluted the Rishis तु सर्वान् = all (the Rishis) एव कृत-अञ्जलिः = done-[palm-joining] => one who has joined his palms in salutation (Ugrashravas) अपृच्छत् = (Ugrashravas) asked (the Rishis) सः = He, Ugrashravas, aka Sauti तपस्-वृद्धिम् = penance-progress => (asked about) progress of penance सद्भिः = by the holy (Rishis) च एव = and अभि-पूजितः = (Ugrashravas) welcomed (by the holy Rishis) Having been welcomed with due respect by those holy Rishis, Sauti, with joined hands, asked them all how their depute penances were progressing.

तमाश्रममनुप्राप्तं नैमिषारण्यवासिनाम्। चित्राः श्रोतुं कथास्तत्र परिवव्रुस्तपस्तिनः॥ तम् आश्रमम् = the ashrama अनुप्राप्तम् = the one who reached (Ugrashravas) नैमिष-अरण्य-वासिनाम् = of the naimisha-forest-dwellers चित्राः = different श्रोतुम् = to listen कथाः = stories तत्र = there परि-वव्रुः(वृण्वन्ति स्म) = surrounded तपस्विनः = ascetics (Thereupon) desirous of hearing his wonderful stories, the ascetics surrounded him who had come to their hermitage in the Naimisha forest.