Ugrashravas Sauti (Sanskrit: à ¤Âà ¤Âà ¥Âà ¤°à ¤¶à ¥Âà ¤°à ¤µà ¤¸à ¥ à ¤¸à ¥Âà ¤¤à ¤¿, also Ugraà Âravas, Sauti, Sà «ta, à Âri Sà «ta, Suta GosvÃÂmë) is a character in Hindu literature, featured as the narrator of the MahÃÂbhÃÂrata and several Puranas including the Shiva Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Harivamsa, Brahmavaivarta Purana, and Padma Purana, with the narrations typically taking place before the sages gathered in Naimisha Forest. He is the son of Lomaharshana (or Romaharshana), and a disciple of Vyasa, the author of the MahÃÂbhÃÂrata. Ugrashravas is a bard of Puranic literature.
The entire MahÃÂbhÃÂrata epic is structured as a dialogue between Ugrasravas 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 Ugrasravas Sauti. Vaisampayana's narration (Jaya) in turn contains the narration of Kurukshetra War by Sanjaya, to Kuru king Dhritarashtra. Thus MahÃÂbhÃÂrata has as a Story within a story structure.
Kisari Mohan Ganguli's English translation of the MahÃÂbhÃÂrata begins by introducing Ugrasravas thus: <blockquote>"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 1:1-2)</blockquote>
The Bhagavata Purana gives an account of the conflict of Sauti's father Romahará¹£aá¹Âa with Balarama. During the Kurukshetra war, Balarama is performing a pilgrimage by visiting various sacred spots. As such, he came to the Naimisha Forest, where he saw Romahará¹£aá¹Âa narrating the Puranas to the sages present there. Everyone welcomed Balarama with joined palms, except Romahará¹£aá¹Âa. The angered Balarama killed Romahará¹£aá¹Âa, with a piece of kusa grass. Balarama offered to revive Romaharshana, but the sages asked, "Please see to it, O RÃÂma, that Your power and that of Your kuà Âa weapon, as well as our promise (of long life, etc. to Romahará¹£aá¹Âa) and Romahará¹£aá¹ÂaâÂÂs death, all remain intact." Balarama fulfilled this by letting Romahará¹£aá¹Âa's son become the speaker of the PurÃÂá¹Âas, and let him be endowed with long life, strong senses, and stamina.