Chapter 15 - Janamejaya’s Query

1-3. Janamejaya said:—O Brahman, I have listened to your description of our great and illustrious family. It is endued with many virtues, consists of various metres, compound words, short but sweet words and is capable of conferring the three-fold objects of life.

4-12. You have described my ancestors, on account of their dissension with the king Duryodhana, did not employ expedients for destroying the power of Brahmanas, the prowess of the warriors, for vanquishing their rivals and killing the descendants of their family. You have described that the descendants of the kings who were killed in that dreadful war obtained their respective kingdoms and that the king of Kurus had been firmly established for following the behest of the Divine Lord. O foremest of the twice-born, you have described in order the duties of the three castes and the means by which one may attain to the celestial region; out of your compassion for creatures you have in many ways described the duties of the four castes. You have also described that on the wane of Karma in which godliness predominates some go downwards through births and some rise up. You also have divided into many parts the fruits of being humble. Indeed sweet are the words that you have said relating to the fruits of gifts and Karma. O reverend sir, I am not capable of reading this great history of Bharata even within one celestial day. But sir, I am anxious to hear from you in brief an account of Jnana for communing with Brahma.