Vyasa originally compiled the Bharata, exclusive of episodes, in twenty-four thousand verses and this much only is called by the learned as the real Bharata,
उपाख्यानैः सह ज्ञेयमाद्यं भारतमुत्तमम्। चतुर्विंशतिसाहस्री चक्रे भारतसंहिताम्॥ उपाख्यानैर्विना तावद्भारतं प्रोच्यते बुधैः।