SB 1.4.25
कर्मश्रेयसि मूढानां श्रेय एवं भवेदिह ।
इति भारतमाख्यानं कृपया मुनिना कृतम् ॥ २५ ॥
karma-śreyasi mūḍhānāṁ śreya evaṁ bhaved iha
iti bhāratam ākhyānaṁ kṛpayā muninā kṛtam
Synonyms
trayī — the three Vedas; na śruti-gocarā — were inaccessible to be heard or received [śravaṇa-yogyā na bhavati101]; strī-śūdra-dvija-bandhūnām — of [i.e., by] women, the laborer class, and the unqualified among the three twice-born classes [dvija-bandhavas trai-varṇikeṣv adhamāḥ102]; [consequently (ata eva)103]; ākhyānam — the narration; bhāratam — known as the Mahā-bhārata; kṛtam — was composed; kṛpayā — out of compassion; muninā — by the sage [the omniscient Vyāsa (sarvajñena vyāsena)104]; iti — [who] thus [contemplated (alocayatā)105]; evam — in what manner [anena eva prakāreṇa]; śreyaḥ — the ultimate good [puruṣārthaḥ106]; bhavet — might be attained; iha — here [in this life or in this world (janmani saṁsāre vā)107]; mūḍhānām — of [i.e., by] the less intelligent; karma-śreyasi — through actions that are conducive to such good [karma-rūpe śreyasi śreyaḥ-sādhane].
Translation
The three Vedas were inaccessible to women, śūdras, and the unqualified among the three twice-born classes. Consequently, out of compassion, the muni [Vyāsa], contemplating in what manner the ultimate good might be attained here in this world by the less intelligent through actions that are conducive to such good, composed the narration known as the Mahābhārata.