Vyasamahima

vyasamahima (Adi-Parva, Poona edn. Appendix I) 123-124

vyasamahima tapovisistadapi vai vasisthanmunipumgavat | manye sresthatamam tva'dya rahasyajnanavedanat | janmaprabhrti satyam te vidma gam brahmavadinim || jadandhabadhironmattam tamobhutam jagad bhavet | yadi jnanahutasena tvaya nojjvalitam bhavet || tamasandhasya lokasya vestitasya svakarmabhih | jnananjanasalakabhirbuddhinetrotsavah krtah || dharmarthakamamoksarthaih samasavyasakirtanaih | tvaya bharatasuryena nrnam vinihatam tamah || puranapurnacandrena srutijyotsnaprakasina | nrnam kumudasaumyanam krtam buddhiprabodhanam || itihasapradipena mohavaranaghatina | lokagarbhagrham krtsnam yathavat samprakasitam || (Adiparva, Poona edn., Appendix I, p. 885). BRAHMA PRAISES VYASA Since now you have realised the mystical knowledge, I consider you to be superior to Vasishtha, the great sage of yore, celebrated for his austerities. Since birth your words, full of truth, have been directed to the exposition of Brahman. The world would have been enveloped in mental darkness if you had not illumined it with the light of your knowledge. By its deeds enveloped in gloom this world has been treated to a festival of mental insight with the application of the collyrium of knowledge. 2

124 puranam - PURANA [Vol. I, No. 2 The darkness of men's minds has been dispelled by the solar light of the Bharata, which contains an exposition of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, both in a concise and expanded form. The Puranas are the Full Moon shining with the light of the Vedas, awakening the intellects of men resembling tender lilies. The flaring lamp of Itihasa destroys the veil of Moha and illuminates the (heart-like) inner cell of the shrine of world. V. S. A. the