Shloka 17
मयस्य प्रतिकृतिः — Maya’s Offer and the Commissioning of the Sabhā
स पूर्वदेवचरितं तदा तत्र विशाम्पते । कथयामास दैतेय: पाण्डुपुत्रेषु भारत,जनमेजय! दैत्ययाज मयने उस समय वहाँ पाण्डवोंको दैत्योंके अद्भुत चरित्र सुनाये
sa pūrvadevacaritaṃ tadā tatra viśāṃpate | kathayāmāsa daiteyaḥ pāṇḍuputreṣu bhārata janamejaya |
Vaiśampāyana said: O lord of the people, at that time and in that place the Daitya (Maya) recounted the wondrous deeds of the ancient gods among the sons of Pāṇḍu. O Bhārata (Janamejaya), he narrated those extraordinary accounts to the Pāṇḍavas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how epic narrative transmits moral and cosmic perspective: even a powerful Asura figure (Maya) situates human affairs within older divine precedents, implying that skill, power, and marvels should be understood against the backdrop of dharma and the world’s established order.
Vaiśampāyana continues his report to King Janamejaya: at that moment, Maya the Daitya is present with the Pāṇḍavas and is recounting ancient stories—specifically the deeds of the gods—thereby entertaining and informing them with extraordinary mythic accounts.