ऋषय ऊचुः । कीदृक्सपत्निजं दुःखं कात्यायन्या उपस्थितम् । उपदेशः कथं लब्धः शांडिल्याः सूत कीदृशः
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | kīdṛksapatnijaṃ duḥkhaṃ kātyāyanyā upasthitam | upadeśaḥ kathaṃ labdhaḥ śāṃḍilyāḥ sūta kīdṛśaḥ
قال الحكماء: «أيُّ نوعٍ من الحزنِ الناشئِ عن الضَّرّة (سَپَتْنِي) حلَّ بكاتْيَايَنِي؟ وما هي وصيّةُ شانديليا—يا سوتا—وكيف نالتها، وعلى أيِّ وجهٍ كانت؟»
Ṛṣayaḥ (Sages)
Listener: Sūta
Scene: Forest hermitage assembly: seated ṛṣis with matted hair and bark garments question Sūta, who sits respectfully with a palm-leaf manuscript; the mood is inquisitive and solemn.
The tradition values detailed transmission of moral-spiritual counsel (upadeśa), especially when it yields vairāgya and dharma.
Indirectly, the tīrtha setting of Kātyāyanī and Śāṇḍilyā, whose greatness is being unfolded through their story.
None in this verse; it requests narrative details about suffering and instruction.