Aum, After bowing to Naarayan and Nar and also to Saraswatee, Jaya should be uttered.

One day Ugrashravaa, the son of Lomharshan, went to the sages who attended the great sacrifice of Shaunak Rishi in Naimish Aranya. All Rishi welcomed him, offered his due Aasan and asked him where he had been? Soot Jee said - "After hearing stories of Mahaabhaarat, written by Vyaas Jee and told by Vaishampaayan Jee in Sarp Yagya of Janamejaya, I went to Samant Panchak where Kuru and Paandav war was fought, then I thought to see you so I came here. You are just sitting here, shall I tell you Puraan stories?" Rishi said - "Puraan were first written by Dwaipaayan Jee and then were heard by Devtaa and Rishi. We wish to hear "Bhaarat" which was also composed by Dwaipaayan Jee just and as it was told by Vaishampaayan Jee in Sarp Yagya."

Soot Jee said - "It is a great source of knowledge established throughout the three worlds. In this world, when there was neither light, nor brightness, it was all darkness around, there appeared a mighty egg - the inexhaustible seed of all created beings. From that egg appeared Brahmaa Jee, Surguru and Sthaanu. Then appeared 21 Prajaapati - Manu, Vashishth, Parameshthi etc, 10 Prachetaa, Daksh, 7 sons of Daksh; then appeared Vishwedev, Aaditya, Vasu, Ashwinee Kumaar, Yaksh, Saadhya, Pishaach, Guhyak and Pitar. After them appeared Maharshi, numerous Raajarshi, water, Heaven, earth, air, years and seasons etc. And all things of the world, living or non-living, will end at the end of the world. At the beginning of the other Yug, they will be renovated. Thus continues continuously to revolve the world, without beginning, without end, and destroying the all things.

Devtaa were 333,333. The sons of Devtaa were Brihadbhaanu, Chaakshush, Aatmaa, Vibhaavasu, Savitaa, Richeek, Ark, Bhaanu, Asavaha, and Ravi. Of these Vivaswaan was the oldest and Mahya was the youngest whose son was Devavrat. Devavrat's son was Suvrat. Suvrat had three sons - Das-Jyoti, Shat-Jyoti and Sahstra-Jyoti. Das-Jyoti had 10,000 sons; Shat-Jyoti had 10 times more sons than Das-Jyoti; and Sahastra-Jyoti had 10 times more sons of Shat-Jyoti. Their descendents were Kuru, Yadu, Bharat, Yayaati, Ikshwaaku and Raajarshi etc. Three types of mystery - Ved, Yog, and Vigyaan Dharm, Arth and Kaam and rules of conduct, histories and discourses on Various Shruti are contained in this book.

Vyaas Jee has written this vast knowledge in detailed as well as in abridged form. Some read this Bhaarat with the initial Mantra while some prefer to read with the story of Aasteek; while some other read it with the story of Uparichar Vasu; while some read it whole. Some are good at explaining it, while some are good at remembering it. Vyaas Jee first analyzed all Ved then composed this history. After composing it, he thought as how to teach it to his disciples. Knowing his anxiety, Brahmaa Jee himself came to him. Vyaas Jee welcomed him and said to him - "I have composed a poem which describes, mystery of Ved; various rituals of Upanishad and Ang (parts); Puraan; determination of the nature of decay, fear, disease, existence and non-existence; charity; Pashupati Dharm; description of pilgrimage places; the science called the Nyaaya; treatment of diseases; rules for the four castes, all Puraan, the dimensions of the Sun, Moon and planets, duration of four ages,; Rig, Saam and Yajur Ved; charity; description of pilgrimage places; Kalp; art of war; different kinds of nations and languages; nature of the manners of the people- all these have been represented here. but I could not find any writer to write this long poem on the Earth."

Brahmaa Jee said - "I admire your knowledge of Divine mysteries. You call it a poem so it will be called a poem, and there shall be no another poet like you, as there is no other Aashram like Grihasth Aashram. Let Ganesh write this poem."

Soot Jee said - "After saying this Brahmaa Jee went to his abode and Vyaas Jee called Ganesh Jee who immediately came there. Vyaas Jee said - "O Lord of Gan, Please be the writer of my poem Bhaarat." Ganesh Jee said - "I will write the poem with the condition that my pen will not stop writing." Vyaas Jee said - "But wherever you will not understand anything you will stop writing." Agreeing Ganesh Jee pronounced Om, and started writing."

Soot Jee said - "I know 8,800 verses, and so is Shuk Dev Jee, and perhaps Sanjaya too. Their meaning is so mysterious that no one is able to explain it fully till now. Even Ganesh Jee took a moment to understand it and in the meantime Vyaas Jee composed many verses. The wisdom of this work has opened the eyes of the world which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance. As Kamalinee blooms in the light of Full Moon, in the same way this Puraan will also expand the human intellect in the light of Shruti.

This work is like a tree, of which its chapters are the seed; its divisions Paulom and Aasteek are its roots; its part called Sambhaav is its trunk. Its books called "Sabhaa" and "Aranya" etc are called the birds perching on the tree; the Book called "Arani" is the knotting knots; the Books called "Viraat" and "Udyog" are the pith; the Book of "Bheeshm" is the main  branch; the Book "Drone" is the leaves; the Book "Karn" is the fair flowers; "Shalya" is their sweet smell; "Stree" and "Aishik" are shade; "Shaanti" is the mighty fruit; "Ashwamedh" is its immortal sap; "Aashramvaasik" is the land where it has grown; "Mausal" is the gist of Ved held in great respect of Braahman."

What is in Mahaabhaarat

Soot Jee continued - "Now I will tell you about its flowery and fruitful productions which cannot be destroyed even by immortals. First Krishn Dwaipaayan became the father of three boys who were like three fires by the two wives of Vichitraveerya - Dhritraashtra, Paandu and Vidur, then he went back to resume his Tap. It was not till after that these three had died, that Vyaas Jee published the Bhaarat in this region of mankind; when asked by Janamejaya and thousands of Braahman, he asked his disciple Vaishampaayan who recited this Bhaarat during the intervals of the Yagya. Vyaas Jee has fully described the greatness of the Kuru Vansh, the virtuous principles of Gaandhaaree, the wisdom of Vidur and the constancy of Kuntee; the Divinity of Vaasudev; greatness of Paandu's sons; and evil practices of sons of Dhritraashtra.

Vyaas Jee originally composed Bhaarat, exclusive of the episodes, in 24,000 verses; and this much is only called Bhaarat. Later he composed its introduction and chapter on contents in 150 verses. He first taught this to Shuk Dev Jee then to his other disciples of the same qualifications. After this he composed another compilation of 600,000 verses, out of those 3,000,000 (thirty hundred thousand) verses are known in the world of Devtaa; 1,500,000 are known in the world of Pitar; 1,400,000 in the world of Gandharv, Yaksh and Raakshas; and 100,000 in the world of mankind. Naarad Jee recited them to Devtaa; Deval Rishi to Pitar; Shuk Dev Jee recited them to Gandharv, Yaksh and Raakshas; and Vaishampaayan Jee recited them in this world. I have also recited 100,000 verses.

Yudhishthir is a vast tree of religion and virtue; Arjun is its trunk; Bheem is its branches; and Nakul and Sahadev are its fruits. Krishn, Brahmaa and Braahman are its roots.

Note
Above paragraph is very confusing. If we leave the first version of Bhaarat alone about which Ved Vyaas Jee himself told Brahmaa Jee that he wrote 8,800 verses in Bhaarat for which he wanted the scriber.
Here he says that he wrote another compilation of 24,000 verses - exclusive of episodes, and this much is only called Bhaarat. Lter he added 150 verses more to it on its introduction and content,
After this he wrote another compilation of 600,000. All these numbers added are 8,800 + 24,000 + 150 = 32,950 verses
Then he says that he wrote 600,000 verses more, it means the total was  600,000 + 32,950 = 632,950 verses - he wrote

After this his statement that
"out of those thirty hundred thousand (3,000,000)" are known in the world of Devtaa
1,500,000 verses are known in the world of Pitar
1,400,000 verses are known in the world of Gamndharv, Yaksh and Raakshas, and
100,000 verses in the world of mankind
Among all these figures the largest figure is  3,000,000. My question is where did this figure come from, as he wrote only 632,950 verses?
So what is the correct number of MBH verses?

Mahaabhaarat in Brief

Paandu after defeating many kings, went to a forest and there he killed a mating deer by mistake which was a warning for the princes of Kuru Vansh as long as they lived. Then Paandu's wives invoked Dharm, Vaayu, Indra and Ashwinee Kumaar to have sons from them. They were brought up by their two mothers and were handed over to Dhritraashtra and his sons by Rishi in the guise of a Brahmchaaree. Rishi said - "They our pupils, are your sons, brothers and friends. They are Paandav." After saying this Muni disappeared.

When Kaurav saw Paandu's son, some were very happy, some posed doubt that how could they be Paandu'a sons because he was dead for long. Still all were very happy to see them. Showers of sweet scented flowers were rained from the sky. The principal men were happy with the purity of Yudhishthr, courage of Arjun, the humility of twins, Nakul and Sahadev, and submissiveness of Kuntee to elders. After a while Arjun won Krishnaa by contesting for a feat in archery and since then he got famous for his archery. He prepared the ground for Yudhishthir to do Raajsooya Yagya by winning all surrounding kings.

With the advice of Krishn, Yudhishthir killed Jaraasandh (King of Magadh) with the help of Bheem and did Raajsooya Yagya. Shishupaal was killed by Krishn in the beginning of the Raajsooya Yagya. Duryodhan also attended this Yagya and became very jealous to see Yudhishthir's vast wealth; and when he saw Yudhishthir's royal court built by Maya Daanav, he was inflamed with rage. As he was visiting it, in a state of confusion of its architecture he was insulted by Bheem in front of Vaasudev as a man of mean descent.

When Dhritraashtra heard about all this, he out of love permitted his son to play dice with Yudhishthir. Vaasudev also came to know about this, but He was very dissatisfied with this but He did not do anything to prevent it. so He avoided the game and other sundry horrid unjustifiable events; and in spite of Vidur, Bheeshm, Drone and Kripaa, He killed all Kshatriya in the war.

Hearing the news of victory of Paandav and death of his own children, Karn and Shakuni Dhritraashtra said to Sanjaya - "Listen to me O Sanjaya carefully what I am going to say to you, then you will not blame me for all this. You know Shaastra very well. I never wanted war. I never discriminated between Paandu's and my own sons, but my own children insulted me because I am old. And because I am blind too because of my paternal affection I will have to bear all this. My son was insulted in the royal assembly hall. Unable to bear it and earning it by himself in spite of being a good soldier, he took the help of Shakuni by playing unfair game with Paandav.

O Sanjaya, Hear this, when I heard all this and what I did, as you will hear it, you will call me a prophet. When I heard that Arjun had won Krishnaa in a bow contest, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjun abducted Subhadraa and Krishn and Balaraam entered Indraprasth as his friend, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjun gratified Agni Dev preventing the downpour of Indra, I had no hope for success. When I heard that Draupadee was dragged in the court at odd time, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Dushaasan was trying to disrobe Draupadee in the court and he could not find the end of her cloth, I had no hope of success.

Note - Here he counts hundreds of events after hearing which he had no hope of success.

Gaandhaaree, who now has no children, grandchildren, brothers etc is to be pitied. I have heard that only ten people are alive after the war - three of our side and seven of Paandav's side - all 18 Akshauhinee army has been slain in this war." Uttering such words, Dhritraashtra came under swoon, but after a while when he got conscious, he again said to Sanjaya - "Whatever has happened, after that I do not wish to live any more."

Soot Jee said - "Sanjaya said - "You have heard about many unconquerable kings told by Vyaas Jee and Naarad Jee, born in royal families, well-versed in celestial arms, very glorious men, but all of them had to die even after performing noble virtuous deeds. Such were Shaibya, Mahaarath, Srinjaya, Suhotra, Rantidev, Kakshivant, Baalheek, Daman, Sharyaati, Ajeet, and Nal, Vishwaamitra, Ambareesh, Marutt, Manu, Ikashwaaku, Gayam Bharat, Raam, Shashbindu, Bhageerath, Kritveerya, Janamejaya too, and Yayaati who of good deeds, a performer of great sacrifices in which celestials themselves assisted him. These 24 kings have been told by Naarad to Shaibya who was very sad after the loss of his children. Not only these, but other kings also had gone before although they were more powerful and glorious and virtuous than these ones.