THE MAHABHARATA.
ADI PARVA.
Section I.
Om! Having bowed down to Narayana and Nara, the most exalted male being, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word success be uttered.
Ugra-srava, the son of Lomaharshana, surnamed Sauti, well versed in the Puranas, bending with humility one day approached the great sages of rigid vows, sitting at their ease who had attended the twelve years' sacrifice of Saunaka, surnamed Kulapati, in the forest of Naimisha. Those ascetics, wishing to hear his wonderful narrations, presently began to address him who had thus arrived at that recluse abode of the inhabitants of the forest of Naimisha. Having been entertained with due respect by those holy men, he saluted those Munis (sages) with joined palms, even all of them, and inquired of the progress of their asceticism. Then all the ascetics, being again seated, the son of Lomaharshana humbly occupied the seat that was assigned to him. Seeing that he was comfortably seated and recovered from fatigue, one of the Rishis, beginning the conversation, asked him, "Whence comest thou, O lotus-leaf-eyed Sauti, and where hast thou spent the time? Tell me, who ask thee, in full?"
Accomplished in speech, Sauti, thus questioned, gave, in the midst of that spacious assemblage of contemplative Munis, a full and proper answer, in words consonant with their mode of life.
Sauti said:—"Having heard the diverse sacred and wonderful stories composed in his Mahabharata by Krishna-Dwaipayana, and which were recited in full by Vaisampayana at the Snake-sacrifice of the high-souled royal sage Janamejaya and in the presence also of that chief of princes, the son of Parikshita; having wandered about, visiting many sacred waters and holy shrines, I journeyed to the country venerated by the Dwijas (twice-born) and called Samantapanchaka, where formerly were
