Shloka 21
Adhyāya 60: Devagaṇa–Ṛṣi–Prajāpatīnāṃ Sambhavaḥ
Origins of Divine Classes, Sages, and Progenitors
सौतिरुवाच तस्य तद् वचन श्रुत्वा कृष्णद्वैधायनस्तदा । शशास शिष्यमासीनं वैशम्पायनमन्तिके,उग्रश्रवाजी कहते हैं-जनमेजयकी यह बात सुनकर श्रीकृष्णद्वैपायन व्यासने पास ही बैठे हुए अपने शिष्य वैशम्पायनको उस समय इस प्रकार आदेश दिया
sautir uvāca tasya tad vacanaṁ śrutvā kṛṣṇadvaidhāyanas tadā | śaśāsa śiṣyam āsīnaṁ vaiśampāyanam antike ||
Ugraśravas (Sauti) said: Hearing those words of his, Kṛṣṇa Dvaidhāyana Vyāsa then instructed his disciple Vaiśampāyana, who was seated nearby.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined, ethical transmission of knowledge: a legitimate question is answered through proper authority, with a qualified disciple appointed to speak, reflecting the guru–śiṣya model of responsibility and fidelity to tradition.
After Janamejaya’s words are heard, Vyāsa responds by directing his disciple Vaiśampāyana—seated nearby—to take up the narration, setting the stage for the ensuing recitation of the Mahābhārata.