The answer of ganesha

"Ganesa, upon hearing this address, thus answered, 'I will become

the writer of thy work, provided my pen do not for a moment cease

writing.' And Vyasa said unto that divinity, 'Wherever there by any-

thing thou dost not comprehend, cease to continue writing.' Ganesa

having signified his assent, by repeating the word Om ! proceeded to

write ; and Vyasa began ; and by way of diversion, he knit the knots of

composition exceeding close ; by doing which, he dictated this work

according to his engagement.

I am (continued Sauti) acquainted with eight thousand and eight

hundred verses, and so is Suka, and perhaps Sanfaya. From the myste-

riousness of their meaning, O Muni, no one is able, to this day, to

penetrate those closely knit difficult slokas. Even the omniscient

Ganesa took a moment to consider ; while Vyasa, however, continued to

compose other verses in great abundance.

The wisdom of this work, like unto an instrument of applying

collyrium, hath opened the eyes of the inquisitive world blinded by the

darkness of ignorance. As the sun dispelleth the darkness, so doth the

Bharata by its discourses on religion, profit, pleasure and final release,

dispel the ignorance of men. As the full-moon by its mild light expand-

eth the buds of the water-lily, so this Purana, by exposing the light of

the Sruti hath expanded the human intellect. By the lamp of history,

which destroyeth the darkness of ignorance, the whole mansion of

nature is properly and completely illuminated.

This work is a tree, of which the chapter of contents is the seed ; the divisions called Pauloma and Astika are the root ; the part called

Sambhava is the trunk ; the books called Sabha and Aranya are the roost-

ing perches ; the books called Arani is the knitting knots ; the books

called Virata and Udyoga the pith ; the book named Bhishma, themain branch ; the book called Drona, the leaves ; the book called

Kama, the fair flowers ; the book named Salya, their sweet smell ; the

books entitled Stri and Aishika, the refreshing shade ; the book called

Santi, the mighty fruit ; the book called Asiuamedha, the immortal sap ; the denominated Asramavasika, the spot where it groweth ; and the

book called Mausala, is an epitome of the Vedas and held in great

respect by the vrituous Brahmanas. The tree of the Bharata,

inexhaustible to mankind as the clouds, shall be as a source of livelihood

to all distinguished poets.'

"Sauti continued, 'I will now speak of the undying flowery and

fruitful productions of this tree, possessed of pure and pleasant taste,

and not to be destroyed even by the immortals. Formerly, the spirited

and virtuous Krishna-Dwaipayana, by the injunctions of Bhishma, the

wise son of Ganga and of his own mother, became the father of three

boys who were like the three fires by the two wives of Vichitra-virya ; and having thus raised up Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura, he return-

ed to his recluse abode to prosecute his religious exercise.that all

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