1.The sages asking the sage suta to describe the story of mahabharata

Before starting the narration of the story respects to Narottamas namely Narayana and Nara and Goddess Saraswati and recite the shloka of Jaya.

Once in Naimisaranya, the son of Lomaharshana Suta Puranika, Ugrasrava, arrived humbly in the twelve years satra which was organized by the sage Shaunaka. There the samshitavrata brahmarshis were sitting at ease and comfortably. As soon as he reached the hermitage, all the sages of Naimisharanya who were also the residents of Naimisharanya surrounded him in order to listen to the thrilling stories. Having got welcomed by all the sages, Ugrashrava joined his hands and greeted all the sages. He inquired about their developments in doing penance and meditation. After all the sages took their seats, Ugrashrava humbly sat down on that seat which was shown to him.

Seeing the sage Suta resting comfortably, one of the sages asked a question: “Sauti! Where are you coming from? Where did you spend your time before coming here? Please tell me to what I asked.” The sage Suta said: “Vaishampayana told the story of Mahabharata which involved the story of krishnadwaipayana, and also various stories which contain strange meanings in the sarpa satra of Mahatma Rajarshi Janamejaya, Pariksita and Parthivendra. Afterwards I set out on a piligrimage and visited several places of piligrimage and I also went to that holy place named Dwijasamsevita Samantapanchaka where the kuru-pandavas and sarva mahikshitas had fought in the battle there in the past. From there I have come to see all of you who have participated in this Yajna, the Mahabhaga, the Suryapavakavarchasas and Brahma Sambhuta according to me. Hey the bramhins! What should I say to you who have after taking bath and getting clean after finishing Japa-Agnihotras? Shall I narrate the Dharmasamshrita Puranic stories or the Mahatma Rishi-Narendra Samshrita story?”

The sages said: "We want to listen to the great work of Vyasa, that story which destroys the sins and fears, that story which was told to janamejaya by vaishampayana, that story which is accompanied by strange words, great in stories, subtle-fair, adorned with the Vedas, Indian epic and also associated with various Brahmi scriptures”.The sage suta said “After offering my sincere salutations to lord hari hrishikesh who is the most auspicious among all the auspicious things I begin to recite the most superior work of shri vyasa sage who is worshipped by the entire universe”.

So many poets have said this many times in the past. Likewise, others in this land will go on telling about this history in the future also. This scripture is looked upon as great knowledge in all the three worlds. It is adorned with auspicious sounds. Includes both human and divine subjects. It has varieties like Chhanda, Avrtta etc. which are loved by scholars.

When there was no world and when everything was surrounded by darkness there was a huge egg that was the inexhaustible seed of everything. This divine great egg is considered as the beginning of an era. This is the truth, the eternal JyotirBrahma, which is the cause of everything. From this the only Lord Prajapati’s father lord Brahma, Suraguru Sthanu, Manu, Parameshti, Prachetasa, Daksha, Daksha's seven sons and twenty one Prajapatis were born. From this appeared Aprameyatma Purusha, known to all sages, Vishvedeva, Adityas, Vasus and Ashwini gods. Then Yaksha, Vishta, Pishacha, Guhyaka, Pitras and Vidwansa-Sishtha-Amala Brahmarsis were born. In the same way, there arose in many numbers the rajarshis of all qualities, afterwards the water, the sky, the earth, the air, the space which is called the antariksha and the directions took birth. From this the year, the month, the day and the night and everything that is seen in this world arose in order. Just as various forms appear at the beginning of a season and perish with it at the end of the season, those that appear at the beginning of an age perish at its end.

In this way, the cycle of birth and death in this eternal world continues rotating without beginning and end. In short, a total of thirty-three lakh thirty-three thousand thirty-three hundred deities were created. Divasputra, Brihadbhanu, Chakshu, Atma, Vibhavasu, Savita, Ritchika, Arka, Bhanu, Ashavaha, Ravi etc. appeared at first. Among them the last one by the blessings of the gods got a son named devabhrata and also devabhrata got a son named subhrata.

Subhrata had three sons, Dasajyoti, Satajyoti and Sahasrajyoti, who were prosperous, versatile and spirited. The great Dashajyoti got ten thousand sons and Shatajyoti got ten times more sons than dashjyoti. Sahasrajyoti had ten times more children than them. It was from them that all the royal dynasties like Kuru, Yadu, Bharata, Yayati, Ikshvaku etc. were born and from these dynasties many more dynasties were born. With his clairvoyance, the sage has seen all the ghost places and the threefold mystery, various scriptures such as Veda, Yoga, Savijnana, Dharma, Artha, Kama, Dharmakamartha, and the methods of world travel. He explained all the history and mysteries of the Shrutis that were interpreted. This is said to be the unique quality of this book. The sage has described the great knowledge in detail and in a concise manner. Because in the world scholars love it.

Some begin this with Adiparva, others with Astikaparva, and still others with the story of Uparichara. While bramhins know this perfectly. By paraphrasing the Mahabharata some illuminate their knowledge of various Samhita. Others hone their craft by memorizing it. Satyavatisuta composed this pious history describing the Sanatana Veda through his austerities and celibacy.

Parasharatmaja Vidwan Brahmarshi Samshitavrata Dhimanta Krishnadvaipayana, as instructed by his mother and Dharmatma Dhimanta Gangeya, gave birth to three fiery and heroic Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura from the wives of Vichitravirya and went back to his hermitage for penance. After his sons became old and reached the highest level, the great sage told the world the story of mahabharata.