Shloka 33
समन्तपञ्चक-आख्यानम् तथा अक्षौहिणी-प्रमाणनिर्णयः
Samantapañcaka Narrative and the Measure of an Akṣauhiṇī
यत्तु शौनक सत्रे ते भारताख्यानमुत्तमम् | जनमेजयस्य तत् सत्रे व्यासशिष्येण धीमता,शौनकजी! आपके इस सत्संग-सत्रमें मैं यह जो उत्तम इतिहास महाभारत सुना रहा हूँ, यही जनमेजयके सर्पयज्ञमें व्यासजीके बुद्धिमान् शिष्य वैशम्पायनजीके द्वारा भी वर्णन किया गया था। उन्होंने बड़े-बड़े नरपतियोंके यश और पराक्रमका विस्तारपूर्वक वर्णन करनेके लिये प्रारम्भमें पौष्य, पौलोम और आस्तीक--इन तीन पर्वोका स्मरण किया है
yat tu śaunaka satre te bhāratākhyānam uttamam | janamejayasya tat satre vyāsaśiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ||
O Śaunaka, this excellent narrative called the Bhārata which I am recounting here in your sacrificial session—this very same account was also narrated at King Janamejaya’s sacrificial rite by the wise disciple of Vyāsa. The verse underscores the careful transmission of sacred history through trusted lineages of teachers and reciters, grounding the epic’s authority in an ethical culture of faithful listening, accurate remembrance, and responsible retelling.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the ethical and cultural importance of faithful transmission: a revered history gains authority through a reliable chain of narration (teacher to disciple, reciter to audience) and through being preserved in solemn settings like sacrificial sessions where truthfulness and attentive listening are valued.
The speaker addresses Śaunaka at the sages’ sacrificial gathering and explains that the Bhārata story being told there is the same account previously narrated at King Janamejaya’s sacrificial rite by Vyāsa’s wise disciple (traditionally identified as Vaiśampāyana), thereby linking the present telling to an earlier, authoritative recitation.