Vyasa said Listen, ye disciples to this foremost of narratives, to this best of histories that concerns the birth of a Rishi. Belonging to the Krita age, this discourse has become known to me through my penances, ye twice-born ones.
शृणुध्वमाख्यानवरमिदमायमुत्तमम्। आदिकालोद्भवं विप्रास्तपसाधिगतं मया॥