"We wish to hear the Purana told by the supreme sage Dvaipayana — holy narratives connected with the Puranas and with dharma, legends of great kings and of great-souled sages; that ancient legend which, upon hearing it, the gods and the brahmarshis honored — the most excellent of narrations, with wondrous words and sections, full of subtle meaning and sound reasoning, adorned with the meaning of the Vedas; the holy history of Bharata, coherent in word and meaning, polished with perfect speech, brahmanical, enriched by many shastras — that which the sage Vaishampayana, by the command of Dvaipayana, joyfully and exactly set forth to King Janamejaya at the sacrifice; the samhita of Vyasa, whose deeds are wondrous, in accord with the four Vedas, righteous, and removing the fear of sin."