All this, having been seen by Rishi Vyasa, is mentioned here in due order as a specimen of the book. Rishi Vyasa declared this mass of knowledge in both abridged and detailed forms. The learned of the world wish to possess both the detailed and the abridged accounts. Some read the Bharata from the first Mantra, some from the story of Astika, some again from Uparichara, while some Brahmanas read the whole.
विस्तीर्यैतन्महज्ज्ञानमृषिः संक्षिप्य चाब्रवीत्। इष्टं हि विदुषां लोके समासव्यासधारणम्॥ मन्वादि भारतं केचिदास्तीकादि तथापरे। तथोपरिचराद्यन्ये विप्राः सम्यगधीयते॥