Shloka 79
व्यासो<5प्युवाच तं देवमबुद्ध्वा मा लिख क्वचित् | ओमित्युक्त्वा गणेशो5पि बभूव किल लेखक:,व्यासजीने भी गणेशजीसे कहा--“बिना समझे किसी भी प्रसंगमें एक अक्षर भी न लिखियेगा।” गणेशजीने “३5” कहकर स्वीकार किया और लेखक बन गये
vyāso 'py uvāca taṃ devam abuddhvā mā likha kvacit | oṃ ity uktvā gaṇeśo 'pi babhūva kila lekhakaḥ |
Vyāsa, too, addressed that divine being (Gaṇeśa): “Do not write anything anywhere without first understanding it.” Gaṇeśa, saying “Oṃ,” accepted the condition and, it is said, became the scribe.
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes ethical responsibility in transmitting knowledge: writing (or recording) should not be mechanical. True preservation of a sacred narrative requires comprehension, careful attention, and fidelity to meaning.
Vyāsa sets a condition for Gaṇeśa, who is to serve as the scribe of the Mahābhārata: Gaṇeśa must not write any passage without understanding it. Gaṇeśa agrees by uttering “Oṃ” and takes up the role of writer.