Shloka 8

अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope

Devanagari script

एवं पृष्टो5ब्रवीत्‌ सम्यग्‌ यथावल्लौमहर्षणि: । वाक्‍्यं वचनसम्पन्नस्तेषां च चरिताश्रयम्‌

Transliteration

evaṁ pṛṣṭo ’bravīt samyag yathāval lomaharṣaṇiḥ | vākyaṁ vacanasampannas teṣāṁ ca caritāśrayam ||

Translation

فلما سُئل على هذا النحو، أجاب لومهَرْشَنة إجابةً صحيحةً وعلى الترتيب اللائق. وكانت كلماته محكمة الصياغة، حسنة العبارة، مستندةً إلى أفعال أولئك الأقدمين وسيرهم، جاعلًا من سلوكهم أساسًا لحديثه.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

पृष्टःhaving been asked

अब्रवीत्said/spoke

सम्यक्properly, correctly

यथावत्as it was, duly, in due manner

लौमहर्षणिःLomaharshani (Ugraśravas), the suta

वाक्यम्speech, statement

वचनसम्पन्नःendowed with apt words/eloquence

तेषाम्of them

चand

चरिताश्रयम्based on (their) deeds/acts; having their conduct as its basis

Characters & Entities

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights standards of responsible narration: speech should be correct (samyak), orderly and faithful (yathāvat), and grounded in the exemplary deeds (carita) of authoritative figures—implying that ethical and historical instruction rests on well-attested conduct and careful expression.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being questioned by the assembled listeners, Lomaharṣaṇa begins his response. The text characterizes his reply as eloquent and properly structured, and as drawing its substance from the life-stories and actions of the persons being discussed.