2. ADI PARVA SECTION I (part 02)

"The Rishi replied, 'The Purana, first promulgated by the great

Rishi Dwaipayana, and which after having been heard both by the gods

and the Brahmarshis was highly esteemed, being the most eminent

narrative that exists, diversified both in diction and division, possessing

subtile meanings logically combined, and gleaned from the Vedas, is a sacred work. Composed in elegant language, it includeth the subjects

of other books. It is elucidated by other Shastras, and comprehendeth

the sense of the four Vedas. We are desirous of hearing that history

also called Bharata, the holy composition of the wonderful Vyasa, which

dispelleth the fear of evil, just as it was cheerfully recited by the Rishi

Vaisampayana, under the direction of Dwaipayana himself, at the

snake-sacrifice of Raja Janamejaya ?' "Sauti then said, 'Having bowed down to the primordial being

Isana, to whom multitudes make offerings, and who is adored by the

multitude ; who is the true incorruptible one, Brahma, perceptible,

imperceptible, eternal ; who is both a non-existing and an existing-non-

existing being ; who is the universe and also distinct from the existing

and non-existing universe ; who is the creator of high and low ; the

ancient, exalted, inexhaustible one ; who is Vishnu, beneficent and the

beneficence itself, worthy of all preference, pure and immaculate ; who

is Hari, the ruler of the faculties, the guide of all things moveable and

immoveable ; I will declare the sacred thoughts of the illustrious sage

Vyasa, of marvellous deeds and worshipped here by all. Some bards

have already published this history, some are now teaching it, and

others, in like manner, will hereafter promulgate it upon the earth. It

is a great source of knowledge, established throughout the three regions

of the world. It is possessed by the twice-born both in detailed and

compendious forms. It is the delight of the learned for being embellished

with elegant expressions, conversations human and divine, and a variety

of poetical measures.

In this world, when it was destitute of brightness and light, and

enveloped all around in total darkness, there came into being, as the

primal cause of creation, a mighty egg, the one inexhaustible seed of all

created beings. It is called Mahadivya, and was formed at the begin-

ning of the Yuga, in which we are told, was the true light Brahma,

the eternal one, the wonderful and inconceivable being present alike in all places ; the invisible and subtile cause, whose nature partaketh

of entity and non-entity. From this egg came out the lord Pitamaha

Brahma, the one only Prajapati ; with Suraguru and Sthanu. Then

appeared the twenty-one Prajapatis, viz., Manu, Vasishtha and Para-

meshthi ; ten Prachetas, Daksha, and the seven sons of Daksha. Then

appeared the man of inconceivable nature whom all the Rishis know

and so the Viswe-devas, the Adityas, the Vasus, and the twin Aswins ; the Yakshas, the Sadhyas, the Pisachas, the Guhyakas, and the Pitris.

After these were produced the wise and most holy Brahmarshis, and the

numerous Eajarshis distinguished by every noble quality. So the water,

the heavens, the earth, the air, the sky, the points of the heavens,

the years, the seasons, the months, the fortnights, called Pakshas, with

day and night in due succession. And thus were produced all things

which are known to mankind. 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 begin*

ning and without end, this wheel which causeth the destruction of all

things.