, . , , .---,~.:.--.-:~., GANAPATI, THE SCRIBE grasp, the meaning of what 1 dic.tate.befor~~:·Y~u write' it down." : . - ~ ~ ..... - .' '. ". ' -.' .") BHAGAVAN , the celebrated compiler of ·the , Ganapati smiled and' agreed to', the condition. , was the son of the great sage Parasara. It ,Then the, sage began to sing the story' ot the Mah,a- ' was he who gave to the world the divine epic of , , He would ,occasionally. cmnpose some the . complex stanzas which would make"Canapati ':t;~tise , Having conceived the Mahabh~rata, he thought· a while to get at the, meaning ,and '. Vyasa: wonld of tlJe means of giving the sacred story to the world. avail himself of :this interval, to . compose :,:many stanzas in his mind. 'Thus the Mahabharata . He meditated on , the Creator, who' mani­ , came to be written by Ganapati to the dictation of Vyasa. fested himself before him. Vyasa saluted him with - '.'~. , bowed head and folded hands and prayed: It was before the days of printing, when the memory of the learned was the sole repository of " Lord, I have conceived an excellent work. books. Vyasa first taught the, great epiC to his son. but cannot think of one who can take it down to my the sage Suka. ,Later, he expounded it toinany dictation." other disciples. ,Were it not so, the, book might . ..~ , Brahma extolled Vyasa and said: "0 sage, have been lost to future generations.' • . ' invoke Ganapati and beg him to be your amanuen­ Tradition has it that ~old the story<,of sis." Having said these words he disappeared. The the Mahabhara to th e devas; while Suka, 'taught ",' sage, Vyasa meditated on Ganapati who appeared it to the , the and the . <., before him. Vyasa received him with due respect It is well known that the' virtuous and learned and sought his aid. Vaisampayana, one of the chief disciples of Vyasa, "Lord Ganapati, I shall dictate the story of the revealed the epic' for the benefit of' humimity. Mahabharata and I pray you to be graciously pleased , the son of the great KingParikshit; to write it down." conducted a great sacrifice in the,.course of:which Vaisampayana narrated the story at the requ~st of , Ganapati replied: "Very well. I shall do as the former. Mterwards,' this story,. as told by· you wish. But my, pen mllst not stop w~ile I am ':'aisampayana, was recited by Suta in the forest of writing. So you . must dictate without pimse' or N a~misa to an assembly of sages' under the .l~ad of Saunaka. . . ' ".. .' ~, hesitation. I can only write on this, condition."

, . ", ,,' . • , ' . Vyasa agreed, guarding himself, however, with' Suta addressed the, assembly: "I had· the, good a counter-stipulation: "Be it so,~ but you must first fortune to' hear the story of the Mahabharata com- ~ , . '

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