The Sanskrit Epics

by Delphi Classics

  “‘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