Ugrashravas narrating the Mahābhārata before the sages gathered in Naimisha Forest.
Ugrashravas narrating the Mahābhārata before the sages gathered in Naimisha Forest.

Ugrashravas Sauti (Sanskrit: उग्रश्रवस् सौती, also Ugraśravas, Sauti, Sūta, Śri Sūta, Suta Gosvāmī) is a character in Hindu literature, featured as the narrator of the Mahābhārata[1] and several Puranas including the Shiva Purana,[2] Bhagavata Purana,[3][4] Harivamsa,[5] Brahmavaivarta Purana, and Padma Purana,[6] with the narrations typically taking place before the sages gathered in Naimisha Forest. He is the son of Lomaharshana (or Romaharshana),[5] and a disciple of Vyasa, the author of the Mahābhārata. Ugrasrava is a bard of Puranic literature.[7]

The entire Mahābhārata epic is structured as a dialogue between Ugrasrava Sauti (the narrator) and sage Saunaka (the narratee). The narration (Bharata) of the history of Bharata kings by sage Vaisampayana to Kuru king Janamejaya is embedded within this narration of Ugrasrava Sauti. Vaisampayana's narration (Jaya) in turn contains the narration of Kurukshetra War by Sanjaya, to Kuru king Dhritarashtra. Thus Mahābhārata has as a Story within a story structure.

Sauti recites the slokas of the Mahabharata
Sauti recites the slokas of the Mahabharata

Kisari Mohan Ganguli's English translation of the Mahābhārata begins by introducing Ugrasrava thus:

"Ugrasrava, the son of Lomaharshana, surnamed Sauti, well-versed in the Puranas, bending with humility, one day approached the great sages of rigid vows, sitting at their ease, who had attended the twelve year sacrifice of Saunaka, surnamed Kulapati, in the forest of Naimisha." (Mahabharata 1:1)[8]

Conflict with Balarama

The Bhagavata Purana gives an account of the conflict of Sauti's father Romaharṣaṇa with Balarama. During the Kurukshetra war, Balarama is performing a pilgrimage by visiting various sacred spots. As such, he came to theNaimisha Forest, where he saw Romaharṣaṇa narrating the Puranas to the sages present there. Everyone welcomed Balarama with joined palms, except Romaharṣaṇa. The angered Balarama killed Romaharṣaṇa, with a piece of kusa grass. Balarama offered to revive Romaharshana, but the sages asked, "Please see to it, O Rāma, that Your power and that of Your kuśa weapon, as well as our promise (of long life, etc. to Romaharṣaṇa) and Romaharṣaṇa’s death, all remain intact." Balarama fulfilled this by letting Romaharṣaṇa’s son become the speaker of the Purāṇas, and let him be endowed with long life, strong senses, and stamina. [9]

References

  1. ^ Winternitz, Moriz; V. Srinivasa Sarma (1996). A History of Indian Literature, Volume 1. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 303. ISBN 978-81-208-0264-3.
  2. ^ The Shiva Purana by J. L. Shastri | 1970
  3. ^ Hiltebeitel, Alf (2001). Rethinking the Mahābhārata: a reader's guide to the education of the dharma king. University of Chicago Press. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-226-34054-8.
  4. ^ Hudson, D. Dennis; Margaret H. Case (2008). The body of God: an emperor's palace for Krishna in eighth-century Kanchipuram. Oxford University Press. p. 609. ISBN 978-0-19-536922-9.
  5. ^ a b Matchett, Freda (2001). Krishna, Lord or Avatara?: the relationship between Krishna and Vishnu. Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-7007-1281-6.
  6. ^ Winterlitz, p. 513.
  7. ^ Jarow, Rick (2003). Tales for the dying: the death narrative of the Bhāgavata-Purāṇa. SUNY Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-7914-5609-5.
  8. ^ Ganguli, Kisari Mohan (1884). The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. Calcutta : Bharata press.
  9. ^ Bhagavata Purana Skandha X Chapter 78. 22-40, Motilal Bansaridass Publishers, Book 4 pages 1745-1747

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