of Yakshas.  Those that had fought on the side of Duryodhana are said to have been Rakshasas.  Gradually, O king, they have all attained to excellent regions of felicity.  Those foremost of men have proceeded, some to the abode of Indra, some to that of Kuvera of great intelligence, and some to that of Varuna.  I have now told thee, O thou of great splendour, everything about the acts, O Bharata, of both the Kurus and the Pandavas.

Sauti said:  Hearing this, ye foremost of regenerate ones, at the intervals of sacrificial rites, king Janamejaya became filled with wonder.  The sacrificial priests then finished the rites that remained to be gone through.  Astika, having rescued the snakes (from fiery death), became filled with joy.  King Janamejaya then gratified all the Brahmanas with copious presents.  Thus worshipped by the king, they returned to their respective abodes.  Having dismissed those learned Brahmanas, king Janamejaya came back from Takshasila to the city named after the elephant.

I have now told everything that Vaishampayana narrated, at the command of Vyasa, unto the king at his snake sacrifice.  Called a history, it is sacred, sanctifying and excellent.  It has been composed by the ascetic Krishna, O Brahmana, of truthful speech.  He is omniscient, conversant with all ordinances, possessed of a knowledge of all duties, endued with piety, capable of perceiving what is beyond the ken of the senses, pure, having a soul cleansed by penances, possessed of the six high attributes, and devoted to Sankhya Yoga.  He has composed this, beholding everything with a celestial eye that has been cleansed (strengthened) by varied lore.  He has done this, desiring to spread the fame, throughout the world, of the high-souled Pandavas, as also of other Kshatriyas possessed of abundant wealth of energy.

That learned man who recites this history of sacred days in the midst of a listening auditory becomes cleansed of every sin, conquers Heaven, and attains to the status of Brahma.  Of that man who listens with rapt attention to the recitation of the whole of this Veda composed by (the Island-born) Krishna, a million sins, numbering such grave ones as Brahmanicide and the rest, are washed off.  The Pitris of that man who recites even a small portion of this history at a Sraddha, obtain inexhaustible food and drink.  The sins that one commits during the day by ones senses or the mind are all washed off before evening by reciting a portion of the Mahabharata.  Whatever sins a Brahmana may commit at night in the midst of women are all washed off before dawn by reciting a portion of the Mahabharata.

The high race of the Bharatas is its topic.  Hence it is called Bharata.  And because of its grave import, as also of the Bharatas being its topic, it is called Mahabharata.  He who is versed in interpretations of this great treatise, becomes cleansed of every sin.  Such a man lives in righteousness, wealth, and pleasure, and attains to Emancipation also, O chief of Bharatas race.