Shloka 65
अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope
चातुर्व्ण्यविधानं च पुराणानां च कृत्स्नश: । तपसो ब्रह्मचर्यस्य पृथिव्याश्रन्द्रसूर्ययो:,ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य और शूद्र--इन चारों वर्णोंके कर्तव्यका विधान, पुराणोंका सम्पूर्ण मूलतत्त्व भी प्रकट हुआ है। तपस्या एवं ब्रह्मचर्यके स्वरूप, अनुष्ठान एवं फलोंका विवरण, पृथ्वी, चन्द्रमा, सूर्य, ग्रह, नक्षत्र, तारा, सत्ययुग, त्रेता, द्वापर, कलियुग--इन सबके परिमाण और प्रमाण, ऋग्वेद, यजुर्वेद, सामवेद और इनके आध्यात्मिक अभिप्राय और अध्यात्मशास्त्रका इस ग्रन्थमें विस्तारसे वर्णन किया गया है
cāturvarṇyavidhānaṃ ca purāṇānāṃ ca kṛtsnaśaḥ | tapaso brahmacaryasya pṛthivyāś candra-sūryayoḥ ||
This work sets forth, in full, the ordinances of duty for the four social orders, and also the complete essential purport of the Purāṇas. It further explains the nature, disciplines, and fruits of austerity and celibate studentship, and describes the measures and standards relating to the earth, the moon, and the sun—thus presenting a comprehensive map of dharma, sacred tradition, and cosmic order.
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s encyclopedic intent: it teaches dharma by laying out duties for the four varṇas, clarifying the essence of Purāṇic tradition, and explaining disciplines like tapas and brahmacarya, all within a vision of an ordered cosmos.
In the opening of the Ādi Parva, the text is being presented as a comprehensive compendium. This verse continues the catalogue of subjects covered, emphasizing social-ethical prescriptions and spiritual disciplines alongside cosmological knowledge.