Sauti, the storyteller, observed the serene assembly of sages, knowing their hunger for knowledge. He cleared his throat and began to recount the journey that had brought him to their sacred forest.
"O great ascetics," Sauti began, "I have just returned from a place of immense historical and spiritual weight. I was present at the magnificent Serpent Sacrifice (Sarpa Satra) presided over by the mighty Emperor Janamejaya, the successor to the Pāṇḍava line.
It was there, at that very assembly, that the revered sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa—through his brilliant disciple, Vaiśampāyana—narrated the numerous, wonderful, and sacred tales that form the Mahābhārata."
He explained his wider travels. "My pilgrimage took me to numerous holy sites and divine shrines, eventually leading me to that consecrated land known as Kurukṣetra. It is a pure place, perpetually frequented by Brahmins, but it is also the infamous field where the most terrible war was fought—where the Kuru, the Pāṇḍava, and all the great kings clashed and fell,"
"From that hallowed, bloody ground," Sauti affirmed, "I journeyed directly here, drawn by the profound desire to see this blessed assembly. I hold all of you to be long-lived, Brahman-embodied beings. Indeed, every participant in this sacrifice shines with the glory of the sun and fire itself."
Observing their expectant silence, Sauti paused, then offered them the choice. "Now that you are well-rested, O Twice-Born, tell me what story would please your hearts. Should I narrate the PurāṇaSaṃhitās—the ancient texts—that speak of Dharma and Artha? Or would you prefer the hallowed histories (Iti-vṛtta) of the great Emperors and Sages?"
The sages did not hesitate. Their voices, synchronized and authoritative, rose in a single, unwavering demand.
"OUgraśravā!" the Sages said. "We wish to hear the sacred, profound, and fearsome epic that Parama-RṣiŚrīKṛṣṇaDvaipāyana himself dictated! We seek the comprehensive, sacred narration delivered at the Janamejayasacrifice by the glorious discipleofVyāsa, Vaiśampāyana."
They praised the work in awe: "It is lauded by gods and Brahmins alike. Every word, every sentence, every chapter of its narrative is imbued with wonderful meaning and context. It is the ultimate treatise, detailing the natureoftheSoul (Ātman) and theSupremeBeing (Paramātmā), filled with subtle logic that aligns perfectly with the very essence of the Vedas."
"We believe this text—the History of Bhārata—is a destroyer of sin and fear, a sacred work that expresses the hidden, subtle meanings of the ancient lore. Please, speak to us the magnificent narration that Vyāsa commissioned and Vaiśampāyana joyfully recited."
Sauti's face became grave. He closed his eyes, focusing his mind on the magnitude of the task. He knew he could not begin such an epic without first acknowledging the ultimate source.
"I bow before the Ancient of Days (Purāṇa-puruṣottam)," Sauti intoned, his voice now deep and ringing. "He is the primal cause, the ultimate controller, the one praised by countless hymns."
He described the Supreme Being, the infinite reality that underlies the entire epic: "He is the One-Syllable Brahman, the eternal and all-pervading Supreme Self. He exists as both Manifest and Unmanifest, yet His true nature transcends even the concepts of Existence and Non-existence."
"He is the source of this entire universe, both the subtle and the gross. He is the most excellent Supreme Lord, eternally free from all imperfections, untouched by sin. He is that very Brahman who is auspiciousness itself, the benevolent Viṣṇu."
"I pay homage to Hṛṣīkeśa—the controller of the senses—the Guru of all the worlds. Having worshipped that great-souled Vyāsa, whose incredible deeds are celebrated universally, I shall now, for your benefit, narrate his sacred account."
The storyteller opened his eyes. The stage was set. The Mahābhārata was about to begin.