I worship Lord Nârâyana who is without defects,
full of auspicious qualities and my Guru and explain the meaning of Bhagavad
Gîta that can be grasped by people.
When people in general were suffering due to lack of right knowledge. Being prayed by kind hearted Brahma, Rudra and others, Lord Vyâsa took birth to give right knowledge to the World.
Kind hearted Lord Vêdavyâsa observed people in the world suffering not knowing the path to attain the desirable liberation nor to get rid of the unwanted misery. For the sake of those who were not capable of understanding true meaning of Vêdas, for the sake of women and sûdras who did not have access to Vêdas, composed Mahâbhârata. Reading this one can attain the ultimate happiness, having right knowledge that is not directly perceivable through senses. It is full of hidden meaning which is not possible for every one to understand, also has meaning which is understandable by every one. Mainly it conveys God.
It is told in Vêdic Scriptures -
"Sustainers of the universe Lord Brahma, Rudra and others saw the people in the world suffering. Those who had access to vêdas were not able to understand its true meaning. Others like women did not have access to vêdas. Having pity on the people they prayed to Godhead Purushôttama. Lord being pleased appeared in the form of Vyâsa. He composed the fifth Vêda which contains the knowledge imparted in Four Vêdas and also has the divine knowledge not directly perceivable through senses. This fifths Vêda is divided into Pancharâtra, Mahâbhârata, eighteen purânas and early Bhâgavata."
"Vêdas are afraid of the people of little knowledge as they are going to hide the true meaning of Vêdas and thus are going to cheat"
"Mahâbhârata can be understood in three fold. manvâdi - as a door to the knowledge of God. âstîkâdi- as a history of Pândavas and Draupadi. uparichâdi - as a prayer to supreme God."
"As this epic is most important and is imparting the supreme knowledge it is called Mahâbhârata. One who knows this meaning of Mahâbhârata will get rid of all his sins."
"Knowledge that is imparted in Mahâbhârata will only be their in any other literature. But the knowledge found in Mahâbhârata cannot be found in any other literature."
"Virâta canto and Udyôga cantos are the essence of Mahâbhârata"
When we analyze above statements about Mahâbhârata earlier said view is supported. Vaishampâyana and other sages have taught Mahâbhârata for a long time in their disciple succession. "Who else can write Mahâbhârata other than Lord Nârâyana himself?" - this statement of purânas cannot be true if Mahâbhârata is not supreme epic. The great Brahmarshi like sage Nârada has studied and has preached from Mahâbhârata. If Mahâbhârata is not supreme epic how can all the sins dissolve just by reading it? The sentence "niruktamasya yô vêda sarva pâpam pramuchyate" - states the removal of all sins. This is true because there is no reason to say otherwise.
Gîta which is in the form of conversation between Krishna and Arjuna contains the summery of Mahâbhârata. It is said
"Among all the scriptures Mahâbhârata is supreme, even in this Bhagavad Gîta and Vishnusahasranâma are supreme. One should study them and gain knowledge"
