Shloka 3
Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्
मातलिनरिदेनैवं सम्पृष्ट: पथि गच्छता । यथावत् सर्वमाचष्ट स्वकार्य नारदं प्रति
Mātalinā idam evaṁ sampṛṣṭaḥ pathi gacchatā | yathāvat sarvam ācāṣṭa svakāryaṁ Nāradaṁ prati ||
Kaṇva sprach: So befragt, während er des Weges zog, berichtete Mātali dem Nārada alles der Wahrheit gemäß, wie es sich zugetragen hatte, im Hinblick auf seinen eigenen Auftrag.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical narration: when questioned, one should report matters yathāvat—truthfully and in proper order—especially when the account concerns one’s duty or mission.
Kaṇva describes a scene where someone travelling is questioned by Mātali on the way and then gives a complete, accurate report to Nārada, framing it in relation to his own assigned task.