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78
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1898.
(a) Devanagari (Bombay) edition.!
(b) South Indian MS. 746-80. (10) Vyasa directs his devotional (10) Vyasa addresses Brahman, telling him thonghts to Ganesa who
that he has composed that great as soon as thought of, ap
poem, 16 pears, and writes down the Mahdbharata which Vyêba
dictates to him. 81. (11) I (Santi?) know 8,800 verses, (11) giving a list of all the subjects treated so does Suka, Sañjaya may
of in this poem. know them or not. 82. (12) The hidden meaning of the (12) Brahman replies praising Vyasa as a Mahábhárata no one is able
great poet and sage, to penetrate. 83a. (13) Even omniscient Gaņeśa took (13) extolling the Mahabharata as the best of a moment to consider.
poems, 838. (14) Vyas also composed many | (14) and describing the Mahabharata as a tree other verses.
of which the Parvans are seed, root,
etc.
(15)
Then Brahman returns to his abode.
(16) Súta says : 'I will now speak of the
branches, flowers, fruits, etc., of
that tree.' (17) 'The Anukramanikädhyâya and Parvasara
graha (?),
84-87. (15) The Mahabharata extolled as
the best of poems, 88-92. (16) The Mahabharata is a tree, of
which the Parvans are seed,
root, etc. 93. (17) Sauti says: 'I will now
speak of the flowers and
fruits, etc., of that tree.' 94-96a. (18) Vysa, by Niyoga, becomes
the father of the Kauravas. 966-993. (19) His sons having grown up.
etc., Vyasa proclaimed the Mahabharata, teaching Vaisampayana and reciting the poem during intervals
of the sacrifice. 996-101a. (20) Brief summary of the con-
tents of the poem, 1016-102. (21) This(first) Bharata contains
100,000 verses, including
the Upakhyanas. 1026-103a. (22) Vyasa made the Bharata of
24,000 verses, without the
Upåkhyánas. 1036. (23) Afterwards the Rishi com
posed another epitome in 150 verses,
(18) This it was what Vyûsa first taught to
his son Suka, then to other fit pupils. (19) Nárada recited it to the Devas, Asita
Devala to the Pitris, Suka to the Gandharvas, Yakshas and Rakshas, Vaisampayapa to Janamejaya.
(20) Duryodhana and Yudhisthira represented
as trees,
* The two lines 606 and 61a are clearly omitted by a scribe's carelessness, the omission being easily accounted for by a n in line 60a And in 61a.