Shloka 20
अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope
जनमेजयस्य यां राज्ञो वैशम्पायन उत्तवान् | यथावत् स ऋषिस्तुष्ट्या सत्रे द्वैघायनाज्ञया
janamejayasya yāṁ rājño vaiśampāyana uttavān | yathāvat sa ṛṣis tuṣṭyā satre dvaighāyanājñayā
রাজা জনমেজয়ের যজ্ঞসত্রে, দ্বৈপায়ন (ব্যাস)-এর আদেশে, ঋষি বৈশম্পায়ন সন্তুষ্টচিত্তে সেই কাহিনি যথাক্রমে বর্ণনা করেছিলেন।
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined transmission of sacred history: a qualified disciple (Vaiśampāyana) narrates faithfully and in proper sequence, grounded in obedience to the teacher’s command (Vyāsa) and within a sanctified ritual setting (satra).
During King Janamejaya’s sacrificial session, Vaiśampāyana begins (or continues) the orderly recitation of the Mahābhārata, explicitly noting that he does so gladly and under Vyāsa’s instruction.