Chapter 60

‘Sauti said, ‘Hearing that Janamejaya was installed in thesnake-sacrifice, the learned Rishi Krishna-Dwaipayana went thither on theoccasion. And he, the grand-father of the Pandavas, was born in an islandof the Yamuna, of the virgin Kali by Sakti’s son, Parasara.

And theillustrious one developed by his will alone his body as soon as he wasborn, and mastered the Vedas with their branches, and all the histories.And he readily obtained that which no one could obtain by asceticism, bythe study of the Vedas, by vows, by fasts, by progeny, and by sacrifice.And the first of Veda-knowing ones, he divided the Vedas into four parts.And the Brahmana Rishi had knowledge of the supreme Brahma, knew the pastby intuition, was holy, and cherished truth. Of sacred deeds and greatfame, he begot Pandu and Dhritarashtra and Vidura in order to continuethe line of Santanu.

“And the high-souled Rishi, with his disciples all conversant with theVedas and their branches, entered the sacrificial pavilion of the royalsage, Janamejaya. And he saw that the king Janamejaya was seated in thesacrificial region like the god Indra, surrounded by numerous Sadasyas,by kings of various countries whose coronal locks had undergone thesacred bath, and by competent Ritwiks like unto Brahman himself. And thatforemost one of Bharata’s race, the royal sage Janamejaya, beholding theRishi come, advanced quickly with his followers and relatives in greatjoy. And the king with the approval of his Sadasyas, gave the Rishi agolden seat as Indra did to Vrihaspati. And when the Rishi, capable ofgranting boons and adored by the celestial Rishis themselves, had beenseated, the king of kings worshipped him according to the rites of thescriptures. And the king then offered him–his grandfather Krishna–whofully deserved them, water to wash his feet and mouth, and the Arghya,and kine. And accepting those offerings from the Pandava Janamejaya andordering the kine also not to be slain, Vyasa became much gratified. Andthe king, after those adorations bowed to his great-grandfather, andsitting in joy asked him about his welfare. And the illustrious Rishialso, casting his eyes upon him and asking him about his welfare,worshipped the Sadasyas, having been before worshipped by them all. Andafter all this, Janamejaya with all his Sadasyas, questioned that firstof Brahmanas, with joined palms as follows:

‘O Brahmana, thou hast seen with thy own eyes the acts of the Kurus andthe Pandavas. I am desirous of hearing thee recite their history. Whatwas the cause of the disunion amongst them that was fruitful of suchextraordinary deeds? Why also did that great battle, which caused thedeath of countless creatures occur between all my grandfathers–theirclear sense over-clouded by fate? O excellent Brahmana, tell me all thisin full as everything had happened.’

“Hearing those words of Janamejaya, Krishna-Dwaipayana directed hisdisciple Vaisampayana seated by his side, saying, ‘The discord thathappened between the Kurus and the Pandavas of old, narrate all to theking even as thou hast heard from me.’

“Then that blessed Brahmana, at the command of his preceptor recited thewhole of that history unto the king, the Sadasyas, and all the chieftainsthere assembled. And he told them all about the hostility and the utterextinction of the Kurus and the Pandavas.'”