Shloka 15
कृताभिषेका: शुचय: कृतजप्याहुताग्नय: । भवन्त आसने स्वस्था ब्रवीमि किमहं द्विजा:,इस समय आप सभी स्नान, संध्या-वन्दन, जप और अग्निहोत्र आदि करके शुद्ध हो अपने-अपने आसनपर स्वस्थचित्तसे विराजमान हैं। आज्ञा कीजिये, मैं आपलोगोंको क्या सुनाऊँ? क्या मैं आपलोगोंको धर्म और अर्थके गूढ़ रहस्यसे युक्त, अन्तःकरणको शुद्ध करनेवाली भिन्न-भिन्न पुराणोंकी कथा सुनाऊँ अथवा उदारचरित महानुभाव ऋषियों एवं सम्राटोंके पवित्र इतिहास?
kṛtābhiṣekāḥ śucayaḥ kṛtajapyāhutāgnayaḥ | bhavanta āsane svasthā bravīmi kim ahaṃ dvijāḥ ||
“You have completed your ritual ablutions and are purified; you have performed your japa and offered oblations into the sacred fire. Seated comfortably upon your respective seats, composed and at ease—tell me, O twice-born ones, what shall I recite to you? Shall I narrate various Purāṇic accounts—subtle in their teachings of dharma and artha and purifying to the inner mind—or the holy histories of noble-souled sages and emperors of exalted conduct?”
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethics of sacred listening: a purified, composed audience (after bathing, japa, and fire-offerings) is fit to receive elevating narratives. It also distinguishes two complementary modes of instruction—Purāṇic teachings that refine inner purity and subtle dharma/artha, and itihāsa-like histories of exemplary sages and kings that model righteous conduct.
The reciter addresses an assembly of Brahmins who have completed their morning rites and are seated calmly. He asks their permission and preference regarding what kind of sacred material they wish to hear—Purāṇic kathā or the holy histories of great ṛṣis and emperors.