Shloka 20

Devanagari script

जनमेजयस्य यां राज्ञो वैशम्पायन उत्तवान्‌ | यथावत्‌ स ऋषिस्तुष्ट्या सत्रे द्वैघायनाज्ञया

Transliteration

janamejayasya yāṁ rājño vaiśampāyana uttavān | yathāvat sa ṛṣis tuṣṭyā satre dvaighāyanājñayā

Translation

At the sacrificial session of King Janamejaya, the sage Vaiśampāyana recounted the narrative in due order, doing so with satisfaction, in obedience to the command of Dvaighāyana (Vyāsa).

Word by Word

• जनमेजयस्य: of Janamejaya
• जनमेजयस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• याम्: which (story/account)
• याम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उत्तवान्: having spoken / recited
• उत्तवान्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्तवतुँ (past active participle)

• यथावत्: duly / in proper order
• यथावत्: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तुष्ट्या: with satisfaction / gladly
• तुष्ट्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• सत्रे: in the sacrificial session
• सत्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• द्वैघायन: of Dvaighāyana (Vyāsa)
• द्वैघायन: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैघायन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• आज्ञया: by the command
• आज्ञया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Vaiśampāyana
• Dvaighāyana (Vyāsa)
• satra (sacrificial session)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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).

What is happening in the narrative?

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.