Honouring the appeal of the sage Śaunaka, Sauti, known as Ugraśrava, rose with reverence and said: “I shall recite the sacred events of the great Bhārata, which is the total of Vedic wisdom and the very essence of the Upanishadic guidance. The sage Vedavyāsa, in his compassion for mankind, composed this mighty epic to serve as a lamp whenever darkness overwhelms the human mind and thought. Hermits and sages revere it as the treatise of Dharma, scholars regard it as a spiritual treasury of salvation, teachers call it a complete guide of morals and conduct, poets hail it as a work of creative genius, narrators preserve it as an Itihāsa, preachers extol it as a storehouse of wisdom, analysts prize it for its authenticity of values and virtues, while devotees celebrate it as a tree heavy with fruits of brilliance and intelligence. This alone, indeed, is the path and guide of salvation. Those who pursue its truths with devotion gain comfort, wealth, and respect in this world, and peace and redemption in the world beyond. To study its depth is to know the meaning of humility and its influence on both personal and collective life. The Mahābhārata leaves untouched no part of the human spirit—its emotions, its entanglements, its conflicts, and its search for dignity and humanity.”
Thus speaking, Ugraśrava praised the vastness of the subject and commenced the narration of the Mahābhārata with prayer to Lord Viṣṇu, the sustainer of the universe; to Lakṣmī, the bestower of wealth; and to Lord Gaṇeśa, whose blessing is the command that dissolves all obstacles. He declared his resolve to dwell upon every event bound with this epic.
In the twilight age between Tretā and Dvāpara, when values declined and morals weakened, the world demanded correction. Then arose Paraśurāma, the fierce incarnation of Viṣṇu, who swept the earth clean of tyrannical kings twenty-one times. With his divine axe he overthrew cruelty, and the blood of those wicked rulers flowed into five pools, which he offered in oblation to the ancestors. Having purged the earth of treachery, he quenched his wrath at the place known as Samantapañcaka.
It was there that the science of war was recalled, where men, arms, and divisions were enumerated. One chariot, one elephant, three horses, and five soldiers formed a unit called Paṭhi. Three such made a Senāmukha. Three of these became a Gulma; three Gulmas formed a Gaṇa. Three Gaṇas became a Vāhinī, and again by three it became a Pr̥thana. This multiplied by three formed a Camū, and three Camūs became an Anīkinī. Ten of these made an Akṣauhiṇī. Such was the measure of armies, and it was in this sacred land of Samantapañcaka that the great war between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas was fought, and it gained the immortal name of Kurukṣetra.
In later times, Janamejaya, the illustrious son of Parīkṣit, destroyer of foes and guardian of the Pāṇḍava line, famous and sinless, celebrated many grand sacrifices. Beloved of his subjects, undefeated in battle, wise and benevolent, he sought to secure divine grace for his people. As he conducted a mighty Yajña, a young dog, offspring of the celestial hound Śaramā, strayed into the consecrated ground in innocent play. Angered, the king’s brothers beat the helpless creature with sticks. Wounded and weeping, it fled to its mother, who in sorrow and indignation came before the king. She spoke bitterly: “Your brothers have tortured my innocent child without cause. Such cruelty to the weak is unrighteous and against the law of kindness. Know this: those who harm the innocent must one day suffer unknown perils and inescapable doom.” Having uttered this curse, the divine hound vanished from sight.
The king, shaken by the weight of her words, completed his sacrifice and returned to Hastināpura. Yet the curse of Śaramā lay heavy upon his heart. Anxious, he sought counsel and was advised to perform rituals to avert the unseen dangers that threatened his realm and lineage. He turned to the sage Śrutasrava, son of the wise Somaśravas, renowned for his mastery of sacrificial rites. With humility, Janamejaya prayed that the sage’s son might conduct these rituals for the welfare of the kingdom. Guided by his preceptor, the king performed many rites to the satisfaction of sages, hermits, and teachers. His reign thereafter was hailed as secure, prosperous, and fair, his people flourishing in self-sufficiency and learning, standing as examples of benevolence and virtue.
Thus, Janamejaya upheld the dignity of his ancestors, walking steadfast in their path. Yet the destinies of rulers, shaped by their intentions and deeds, move ever in the majestic and unfathomable dance of Time, whose causes are revealed only as the ages pass.
