“‘Thus accoutred, he receives high honours in Heaven for many long years. With Gandharvas in his company, for full 21,000 years, he sports in bliss with Indra himself in abode of Indra. He roves at pleasure every day through the diverse regions of the gods, riding on celestial cars and conveyances, and surrounded by celestial damsels of transcendent beauty. He is able to go to the abode of the solar deity, of the lunar deity, and of Siva, O king. Indeed, he succeeds in living in the same region with Vishnu himself. It is even so, O monarch. There is no doubt in this. A person listening with faith, becomes even so. My preceptor has said this. Unto the reciter should be given all such objects as he may wish. Elephants and steeds and cars and conveyances, especially animals and the vehicles they draw, a bracelet of gold, a pair of ear-rings, sacred threads, beautiful robes, and perfumes in especial (should be given). By worshipping him as a deity one attains to the regions of Vishnu.
“‘After this I shall declare what should be given away, as each parva is reached of the Bharata in course of its recitation, unto brahmanas, after ascertaining their birth, country, truthfulness, and greatness, O chief of Bharata’s race, as also their inclination for piety, and unto Kshatriyas too, O king, after ascertainment of similar particulars. Causing the Brahmanas to utter benedictions, the business of recitation should be begun. When a parva is finished, the brahmanas should be worshipped to the best of one’s power. At first, the reciter, clad in good robes and smeared with perfumed paste, should, O king, be duly fed with honey and frumenty of the best kind.
“‘When the Astika-parva is being recited, brahmanas should be entertained with fruits and roots, and frumenty, and honey and clarified butter, and rice boiled with raw sugar.
“‘When the Sabha-parva is being recited, brahmanas should be fed with habisya along with apupas and pupas and modakas, O king.
“‘When the Aranyaka-parva is being recited, superior brahmanas should be fed with fruits and roots.
“‘When the Arani-parva is reached, water-pots full of water should be given away. Many superior kinds of delicious food, also rice and fruits and roots, and food possessed of every agreeable attribute, should be presented unto the brahmanas.
“‘During the recitation of the Virata-parva diverse kinds of robes should be given away; and during that of the Udyoga-parva, O chief of the Bharatas, the twice-born ones, after being decked with perfumes and garlands, should be entertained with food possessed of every agreeable quality.
“‘During the recitation of the Bhishma-parva, O king of kings, after giving them excellent cars and conveyances, food should be given that is pure and well-cooked and possessed of every desirable attribute.
“‘During the Drona-parva food of very superior kind should be given to learned brahmanas, as also beds, O monarch, and bows and good swords.
“‘During the recitation of the Karna-parva, food of the foremost kind, besides being pure and well-cooked, should be presented unto the brahmanas by the house-holder with rapt mind.
“‘During the recitation of the Shalya-parva, O king of kings, food with confectionery and rice boiled with raw sugar, as also cakes of wheat and soothing and nutritive viands and drinks should be presented.
“‘During the recitation of the Gada-parva, brahmanas should be entertained with food mixed with mudga.
“‘During the recitation of the Stri-parva, foremost of brahmanas should be entertained with gems and precious stones; and during the recitation of the Aishika-parva, rice boiled in ghee should first be given, and then food pure and well-cooked, and possessed of every desirable quality, should be presented.
“‘During the recitation of the Shanti-parva, the brahmanas should be fed with havisya.
“‘When the Asvamedhika-parva is reached, food possessed of every agreeable quality should be given; and when the Asramvasika is reached, brahmanas should be entertained with havisya.
“‘When the Mausala is reached, scents and garlands possessed of agreeable qualities should be given away.
“‘During the Mahaprasthanika, similar presents should be made, possessed of every quality of an agreeable kind.
“‘When the Svarga-parva is reached, the brahmanas should be fed with havisya.
“‘Upon the conclusion of the Harivansa, a 1,000 brahmanas should be fed. Unto each of them should be presented a cow accompanied with a piece of gold. Half of this should be presented to each poor man, O king.
“‘Upon the conclusion of all the Parvas, the house-holder of wisdom should give unto the reciter a copy of the Mahabharata with a piece of gold. When the Harivansa Parva is being recited, Brahmanas should be fed with frumenty at each successive Parana, O king. Having finished all the Parvas, one versed in the scriptures, robing himself in white, wearing garlands, decked with ornaments, and properly purified, should place a copy of the Mahabharata on an auspicious spot and cover it with a piece of silken cloth and worship it, according to due rites, with scents and garlands, offering each at a time. Indeed, O king, the several volumes of this treatise should be worshipped by one with devotion and concentrated mind. Offerings should be made unto them of diverse kinds of food and garlands and drinks and diverse auspicious articles of enjoyment. Gold and other precious metals should be given as Dakshina. The names should then be taken of all the deities as also of Nara and Narayana. Then, adorning the persons of some foremost of Brahmanas with scents and garlands, they should be gratified with diverse kinds of gifts of enjoyable and very superior or costly articles. By doing this, one attains to the merits of the Atiratra sacrifice. Indeed, at each successive Parva, he acquires the merits that attach to the performance of a sacrifice. The reciter, O chief of the Bharatas, should be possessed of learning and endued with a good voice and a clear utterance respecting both letters and words. Even such a man should, O chief of the Bharatas, recite the Bharata. After entertaining a number of foremost Brahmanas, presents should be made unto them according to the ordinances. The reciter also, O chief of the Bharatas, should be decked with ornaments and fed sumptuously. The reciter being gratified, the house-holder attains to an excellent and auspicious contentment. If the Brahmanas are gratified, all the deities are gratified. After this, O chief of the Bharatas, Brahmanas should be duly entertained with diverse kinds of enjoyable articles and superior things.
“‘I have thus indicated the ordinances, O foremost of men, (about the manner of reciting these scriptures) in answer to thy enquiries. Thou shouldst observe them with faith. In listening to a recitation of the Bharata and at each Parana, O best of kings, one that desires to attain to the highest good should listen with the greatest care and attention. One should listen to the Bharata every day. One should proclaim the merits of the Bharata every day. One in whose house the Bharata occurs, has in his hands all those scriptures which are known by the name of Jaya. The Bharata is cleansing and sacred. In the Bharata are diverse topics. The Bharata is worshipped by the very gods. The Bharata is the highest goal. The Bharata, O chief of the Bharatas, is the foremost of all scriptures. One attains to Emancipation through the Bharata. This that I tell thee is certain truth. One that proclaims the merits of this history called the Mahabharata, of the Earth, of the cow, of Sarasvati (the goddess of speech), of Brahmanas, and of Keshava, has never to languish.
“‘In the Vedas, in the Ramayana, and in the sacred Bharata, O chief of Bharata’s race, Hari is sung in the beginning, the middle, and at the end. That in which occur excellent statements relating to Vishnu, and the eternal Srutis, should be listened to by men desirous of attaining to the highest goal. This treatise is sanctifying. This is the highest indicator as regards duties; this is endued with every merit. One desirous of prosperity should listen to it. Sins committed by means of the body, by means of words, and by means of the mind, are all destroyed (through listening to the Bharata) as Darkness at sunrise. One devoted to Vishnu acquires (through this) that merit which is acquired by listening to the eighteen Puranas. There is no doubt in this. Men and women (by listening to this) would ce
rtainly attain to the status of Vishnu. Women desirous of having children should certainly listen to this which proclaims the fame of Vishnu. One desirous of attaining to the fruits that attach to a recitation of the Bharata should, according to one’s power, give unto the reciter Dakshina, as also an honorarium in gold. One desirous of one’s own good should give unto the reciter a Kapila cow with horns cased in gold and accompanied by her calf, covered with a cloth. Ornaments, O chief of Bharatas race, for the arms, as also those for the ears, should be given. Besides these, other kinds of wealth should be presented. Unto the reciter, O king of men, gift of land should be made. No gift like that of land could ever be or will be. The man that listens (to the Bharata) or that recites it to other people, becomes cleansed of all his sins and attains at last to the status of Vishnu. Such a man rescues his ancestors to the eleventh degree, as also himself with his wives and sons, O chief of Bharata’s race. After concluding a recitation of the Bharata, one should, O king, perform a Homa with all its ten parts.
“‘I have thus, O chief of men, told everything in thy presence. He that listens with devotion to this Bharata from the beginning becomes cleansed of every sin even if he be guilty of Brahmanicide or the violation of his preceptor’s bed, or even if he be a drinker of alcohol or a robber of other people’s wares, or even if he be born in the Chandala order. Destroying all his sins like the maker of day destroying darkness, such a man, without doubt, sports in felicity in the region of Vishnu like Vishnu himself.’”
The End of the Svargarohanika-parva
The Eighteen parvas of the Mahabharata are thus complete.
MAHABHARATA: DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS
TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE
BOOK 1. ADI PARVA
SECTION I
SECTION II
SECTION III
SECTION IV
SECTION V
SECTION VI
SECTION VII
SECTION VIII
SECTION IX
SECTION X
SECTION XI
SECTION XII
SECTION XIII
SECTION XIV
SECTION XV
SECTION XVI
SECTION XVII
SECTION XVIII
SECTION XIX
SECTION XX
SECTION XXI
SECTION XXII
SECTION XXIII
SECTION XXIV
SECTION XXV
SECTION XXVI
SECTION XXVII
SECTION XXVIII
SECTION XXIX
SECTION XXX
SECTION XXXI
SECTION XXXII
SECTION XXXIII
SECTION XXXIV
SECTION XXXV
SECTION XXXVI
SECTION XXXVII
SECTION XXXVIII
SECTION XXXIX
SECTION XL
SECTION XLI
SECTION XLII
SECTION XLIII
SECTION XLIV
SECTION XLV
SECTION XLVI
SECTION XLVII
SECTION XLVIII
SECTION XLIX
SECTION L
SECTION LI
SECTION LII
SECTION LIII
SECTION LIV
SECTION LV
SECTION LVI
SECTION LVII
SECTION LVIII
SECTION LIX
SECTION LX
SECTION LXI
SECTION LXII
SECTION LXIII
SECTION LXIV
SECTION LXV
SECTION LXVI
SECTION LXVII
SECTION LXVIII
SECTION LXIX
SECTION LXX
SECTION LXXI
SECTION LXXII
SECTION LXXIII
SECTION LXXIV
SECTION LXXV
SECTION LXXVI
SECTION LXXVII
SECTION LXXVIII
SECTION LXXIX
SECTION LXXX
SECTION LXXXI
SECTION LXXXII
SECTION LXXXIII
SECTION LXXXIV
SECTION LXXXV
SECTION LXXXVI
SECTION LXXXVII
SECTION LXXXVIII
SECTION LXXXIX
SECTION XC
SECTION XCI
SECTION XCII
SECTION XCIII
SECTION XCIV
SECTION XCV
SECTION XCVI
SECTION XCVII
SECTION XCVIII
SECTION XCIX
SECTION C
SECTION CI
SECTION CII
SECTION CIII
SECTION CIV
SECTION CV
SECTION CVI
SECTION CVII
SECTION CVIII
SECTION CIX
SECTION CX
SECTION CXI
SECTION CXII
SECTION CXIII
SECTION CXIV
SECTION CXV
SECTION CXVI
SECTION CXVII
SECTION CXVIII
SECTION CXIX
SECTION CXX
SECTION CXXI
SECTION CXXII
SECTION CXXIII
SECTION CXXIV
SECTION CXXV
SECTION CXXVI
SECTION CXXVII
SECTION CXXVIII
SECTION CXXIX
SECTION CXXX
SECTION CXXXI
SECTION CXXXII
SECTION CXXXIII
SECTION CXXXIV
SECTION CXXXV
SECTION CXXXVI
SECTION CXXXVII
SECTION CXXXVIII
SECTION CXXXIX
SECTION CXL
SECTION CXLI
SECTION CXLII
SECTION CXLIII
SECTION CXLIV
SECTION CXLV
SECTION CXLVI
SECTION CXLVII
SECTION CXLVIII
SECTION CXLIX
SECTION CL
SECTION CLI
SECTION CLII
SECTION CLIII
SECTION CLIV
SECTION CLV
SECTION CLVI
SECTION CLVII
SECTION CLVIII
SECTION CLIX
SECTION CLX
SECTION CLXI
SECTION CLXII
SECTION CLXIII
SECTION CLXIV
SECTION CLXV
SECTION CLXVI
SECTION CLXVII
SECTION CLXVIII
SECTION CLXIX
SECTION CLXX
SECTION CLXXI
SECTION CLXXII
SECTION CLXXIII
SECTION CLXXIV
SECTION CLXXV
SECTION CLXXVI
SECTION CLXXVIII
SECTION CLXXIX
SECTION CLXXX
SECTION CLXXXI
SECTION CLXXXII
SECTION CLXXXIII
SECTION CLXXXIV
SECTION CLXXXV
SECTION CLXXXVI
SECTION CLXXXVII
SECTION CLXXXVIII
SECTION CLXXXIX
SECTION CLXL
SECTION CLXLI
SECTION CLXLII
SECTION CLXLIII
SECTION CLXLIV
SECTION CLXLV
SECTION CLXLVI
SECTION CLXLVII
SECTION CLXLVIII
SECTION CLXLIX
SECTION CC
SECTION CCI
SECTION CCII
SECTION CCIII
SECTION CCIV
SECTION CCV
SECTION CCVI
SECTION CCVII
SECTION CCVIII
SECTION CCIX
SECTION CCX
SECTION CCXI
SECTION CCXII
SECTION CCXIII
SECTION CCXIV
SECTION CCXV
SECTION CCXVI
SECTION CCXVII
SECTION
CCXVIII
SECTION CCXIX
SECTION CCXX
SECTION CCXXI
SECTION CCXXII
SECTION CCXXIII
SECTION CCXXIV
SECTION CCXXV
SECTION CCXXVI
SECTION CCXXVII
SECTION CCXXVIII
SECTION CCXXIX
SECTION CCXXX
SECTION CCXXXI
SECTION CCXXXII
SECTION CCXXXIII
SECTION CCXXXIV
SECTION CCXXXV
SECTION CCXXXVI
BOOK 2. SABHA PARVA
SECTION I
SECTION II
SECTION III
SECTION IV
SECTION V
SECTION VI
SECTION VII
SECTION VIII
SECTION IX
SECTION X
SECTION XI
SECTION XII
SECTION XIII
SECTION XIV
SECTION XV
SECTION XVI
SECTION XVII
SECTION XVIII
SECTION XIX
SECTION XX
SECTION XXI
SECTION XXII
SECTION XXIII
SECTION XXIV
SECTION XXV
SECTION XXVI
SECTION XXVII
SECTION XXVIII
SECTION XXIX
SECTION XXX
SECTION XXXI
SECTION XXXII
SECTION XXXIII
SECTION XXXIV
SECTION XXXV
SECTION XXXVI
SECTION XXXVII
SECTION XXXVIII
SECTION XXXIX
SECTION XL
SECTION XLI
SECTION XLII
SECTION XLIII
SECTION XLIV
SECTION XLV
SECTION XLVI
SECTION XLVII
SECTION XLVIII
SECTION XLIX
SECTION L
SECTION LI
SECTION LII
SECTION LIII
SECTION LIV
SECTION LV
SECTION LVI
SECTION LVII
SECTION LVIII
SECTION LIX
SECTION LX
SECTION LXI
The Sanskrit Epics Page 919