Mahabharat

siva.sh/mahabharat/adi-parva/2/31

आत्मेव वेदितव्येषु परियेष्व इव च जीवितम इतिहासः परधानार्थः शरेष्ठः सर्वागमेष्व अयम ।। १-२-३१ ।।

sanskrit

'Just as the self is paramount among objects of knowledge and life is cherished among things dear, so is this narrative, which serves as the key to understanding Brahma, the foremost among all scriptures. Every tale in the world relies on this historical epic, much like the body relies on its foundational foot.'।। 1-2-31 ।।

english translation

Atmeva veditavyeSu pariyeSva iva ca jIvitama itihAsaH paradhAnArthaH zareSThaH sarvAgameSva ayama || 1-2-31 ||

hk transliteration by Sanscript