Shaunaka said : I desire to hear that sacred history, called Mahabharata, that spreader of the fame of the Pandavas, which Krishna Dvaipayana, asked by Janamejaya, caused to be duly recited in the intervals of the sacrifice.
शौनक उवाच महाभारतमाख्यानं पाण्डवानां यशस्करम्। जनमेजयेन पृष्टः सन्कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा॥ श्रावयामास विधिवत्तदा कर्मान्तरे तु सः। तामहं विधिवत्पुण्यां श्रोतुमिच्छामि वै कथाम्॥