THE MAHABHAHATA

Om ! Having bowed down to Narayana and Nara, the most exalted

male being, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be

uttered.

Ugrasrava, the son of Lomaharshana, surnamed Sauti, well-versed

in the Puranas, bending with humility, one day approached the great

sages of rigid vows, sitting at their ease, who had attended the twelve

years sacrifice of Saunaka, surnamed Kulapati, in the forest of Naimisha.

Those ascetics, wishing to hear his wonderful narrations, presently

began to address him who had thus arrived at that recluse abode of the

inhabitants of the forest of Naimisha. Having been entertained with

due respect by those holy men, he saluted those Munis (sages) with

joined palms, even all of them, and inquired about the progress of their

asceticism. Then all the ascetics being again seated, the son of Loma-

harshana humbly occupied the seat that was assigned to him. Seeing

that he was comfortably seated, and recovered from fatigue, one of the

Rishis beginning the conversation, asked him, Whence comest thou,

O lotus-eyed Sauti, and where hast thou spent the time ? Tell me, who

ask thee, in detail.

Accomplished in speech, Sauti, thus questioned, gave in the midst

of that big assemblage of con