Shloka 28
अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope
अलंकृतं शुभै: शब्दै: समयैर्दिव्यमानुषै: । छन््दोवृत्तैश्न विविधैरन्वितं विदुषां प्रियम्,यह शुभ (ललित एवं मंगलमय) शब्दविन्याससे अलंकृत है तथा वैदिक-लौकिक या संस्कृत-प्राकृत संकेतोंसे सुशोभित है। अनुष्टप्, इन्द्रवज्ञा आदि नाना प्रकारके छन््द भी इसमें प्रयुक्त हुए हैं; अतः यह ग्रन्थ विद्वानोंकों बहुत ही प्रिय है
alaṅkṛtaṃ śubhaiḥ śabdaiḥ samayair divya-mānuṣaiḥ | chandovṛttaiś ca vividhair anvitaṃ viduṣāṃ priyam ||
إنه مُزَيَّنٌ بألفاظٍ مباركة رشيقة، ومُحَلّى بأعرافٍ مأخوذة من المجال الإلهي (الڤيدي) ومن المجال الإنساني (الدنيوي). وقد نُظِم على أوزانٍ شعرية شتّى، فلذلك هو عزيزٌ على أهل العلم.
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the Mahābhārata’s literary and cultural authority: it unites auspicious, elegant language with both sacred (Vedic) and worldly conventions, and employs diverse meters—hence it is valued by scholars. Implicitly, it presents the text as a trustworthy and refined vehicle for dharma and instruction.
In the opening of the Ādi Parva, the work is being introduced and commended. This verse functions as a eulogy of the epic’s composition—its diction, conventions, and metrical variety—rather than advancing plot events.