Mahabharata Adiparva

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरॊत्तमम
      देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततॊ जयम उदीरयेत

Om! Having bowed down to Narayana and Nara, the most exalted male being, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be uttered.
1.56.31 – 1.56.33

 31 भारतानां महज जन्म महाभारतम उच्यते
     निरुक्तम अस्य यॊ वेद सर्वपापैर परमुच्यते
 32 तरिभिर वर्षैः सदॊत्थायी कृष्णद्वैपायनॊ मुनिः
     महाभारतम आख्यानं कृतवान इदम उत्तमम
 33 धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च मॊक्षे च भरतर्षभ
     यद इहास्ति तद अन्यत्र यन नेहास्ति न तत कव चित

208 चत्वार एकतॊ वेदा भारतं चैकम एकतः
       समागतैः सुरर्षिभिस तुलाम आरॊपितं पुरा
       महत्त्वे च गुरुत्वे च धरियमाणं ततॊ ऽधिकम
209 महत्त्वाद भारवत्त्वाच च महाभारतम उच्यते
        निरुक्तम अस्य यॊ वेद सर्वपापैः परमुच्यते

    "In former days, having placed the four Vedas on one side and the Bharata on the other, these were weighed in the balance by the celestials assembled for that purpose. And as the latter weighed heavier than the four Vedas with their mysteries, from that period it hath been called in the world Mahabharata (the great Bharata). Being esteemed superior both in substance and gravity of import it is denominated Mahabharata on account of such substance and gravity of import. He that knoweth its meaning is saved from all his sins.

  इतिहास पुराणाभ्यां वेदं समुपबृंहयेत
   बिभेत्य अल्पश्रुताद वेदॊ माम अयं परतरिष्यति 1.204

By the aid of history and the Puranas, the Veda may be expounded; but the Veda is afraid of one of little information lest he should it. The learned man who recites to other this Veda of Vyasa reapeth advantage. It may without doubt destroy even the sin of killing the embryo and the like. He that readeth this holy chapter of the moon, readeth the whole of the Bharata, I ween. The man who with reverence daily listeneth to this sacred work acquireth long life and renown and ascendeth to heaven.