Adi Parva Part 2

And what is seen in the universe, whether animate or inanimate, of created things, will at the end of the world, and after the

expiration of the Yuga, be again confounded. And, at the commencement of other Yugas, all things will be renovated, and, like

the various fruits of the earth, succeed each other in the due order of their seasons. Thus continueth perpetually to revolve in

the world, without beginning and without end, this wheel which causeth the destruction of all things.

The generation of Devas, in brief, was thirty-three thousand, thirty-three hundred and thirty-three. The sons of Div were

Brihadbhanu, Chakshus, Atma Vibhavasu, Savita, Richika, Arka, Bhanu, Asavaha, and Ravi. Of these Vivaswans of old,

Mahya was the youngest whose son was Deva-vrata. The latter had for his son, Su-vrata who, we learn, had three sons,--Dasa-

jyoti, Sata-jyoti, and Sahasra-jyoti, each of them producing numerous offspring. The illustrious Dasa-jyoti had ten thousand,

Sata-jyoti ten times that number, and Sahasra-jyoti ten times the number of Sata-jyoti's offspring. From these are descended the

family of the Kurus, of the Yadus, and of Bharata; the family of Yayati and of Ikshwaku; also of all the Rajarshis. Numerous

also were the generations produced, and very abundant were the creatures and their places of abode. The mystery which is

threefold--the Vedas, Yoga, and Vijnana Dharma, Artha, and Kama--also various books upon the subject of Dharma, Artha,

and Kama; also rules for the conduct of mankind; also histories and discourses with various srutis; all of which having been

seen by the Rishi Vyasa are here in due order mentioned as a specimen of the book.

The Rishi Vyasa published this mass of knowledge in both a detailed and an abridged form. It is the wish of the learned in the

world to possess the details and the abridgement. Some read the Bharata beginning with the initial mantra (invocation), others

with the story of Astika, others with Uparichara, while some Brahmanas study the whole. Men of learning display their various

knowledge of the institutes in commenting on the composition. Some are skilful in explaining it, while others, in remembering

its contents.

The son of Satyavati having, by penance and meditation, analysed the eternal Veda, afterwards composed this holy history,

when that learned Brahmarshi of strict vows, the noble Dwaipayana Vyasa, offspring of Parasara, had finished this greatest of

narrations, he began to consider how he might teach it to his disciples. And the possessor of the six attributes, Brahma, the

world's preceptor, knowing of the anxiety of the Rishi Dwaipayana, came in person to the place where the latter was, for

gratifying the saint, and benefiting the people. And when Vyasa, surrounded by all the tribes of Munis, saw him, he was

surprised; and, standing with joined palms, he bowed and ordered a seat to be brought. And Vyasa having gone round him who

is called Hiranyagarbha seated on that distinguished seat stood near it; and being commanded by Brahma Parameshthi, he sat

down near the seat, full of affection and smiling in joy. Then the greatly glorious Vyasa, addressing Brahma Parameshthi, said,

"O divine Brahma, by me a poem hath been composed which is greatly respected. The mystery of the Veda, and what other

subjects have been explained by me; the various rituals of the Upanishads with the Angas; the compilation of the Puranas and

history formed by me and named after the three divisions of time, past, present, and future; the determination of the nature of

decay, fear, disease, existence, and non-existence, a description of creeds and of the various modes of life; rule for the four

castes, and the import of all the Puranas; an account of asceticism and of the duties of a religious student; the dimensions of the

sun and moon, the planets, constellations, and stars, together with the duration of the four ages; the Rik, Sama and Yajur

Vedas; also the Adhyatma; the sciences called Nyaya, Orthoephy and Treatment of diseases; charity and Pasupatadharma; birth

celestial and human, for particular purposes; also a description of places of pilgrimage and other holy places of rivers,

mountains, forests, the ocean, of heavenly cities and the kalpas; the art of war; the different kinds of nations and languages: the

nature of the manners of the people; and the all-pervading spirit;--all these have been represented. But, after all, no writer of

this work is to be found on earth.'

"Brahma said. 'I esteem thee for thy knowledge of divine mysteries, before the whole body of celebrated Munis distinguished

for the sanctity of their lives. I know thou hast revealed the divine word, even from its first utterance, in the language of truth.

Thou hast called thy present work a poem, wherefore it shall be a poem. There shall be no poets whose works may equal the

descriptions of this poem, even, as the three other modes called Asrama are ever unequal in merit to the domestic Asrama. Let

Ganesa be thought of, O Muni, for the purpose of writing the poem.'

"Sauti said, 'Brahma having thus spoken to Vyasa, retired to his own abode. Then Vyasa began to call to mind Ganesa. And

Ganesa, obviator of obstacles, ready to fulfil the desires of his votaries, was no sooner thought of, than he repaired to the place

where Vyasa was seated. And when he had been saluted, and was seated, Vyasa addressed him thus, 'O guide of the Ganas! be

thou the writer of the Bharata which I have formed in my imagination, and which I am about to repeat.