Shloka 16
नारायणीयमाख्यानमेतत् ते कथितं मया । पृष्टेन शौनकाद्येह नैमिषारण्यवासिषु,शौनक! आज तुम्हारे प्रश्नके अनुसार इन नैमिषा-रण्यनिवासी मुनियोंके समीप मैंने यहाँ यह नारायणका माहात्म्य-सम्बन्धी उपाख्यान तुम्हें सुनाया है
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Nārāyaṇīyam ākhyānam etat te kathitaṃ mayā | pṛṣṭena Śaunakādyeha Naimiṣāraṇyavāsiṣu, Śaunaka!
Vaiśampāyana said: “At your request, O Śaunaka, here in the presence of the sages dwelling in the Naimiṣa Forest, I have narrated to you this Nārāyaṇīya account—an episode proclaiming the greatness of Nārāyaṇa.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
That sacred knowledge is transmitted responsibly: a revered narrative (ākhyāna) praising Nārāyaṇa is shared in response to sincere inquiry, within a community of sages, emphasizing devotion and the authority of tradition.
Vaiśampāyana concludes or marks completion of the Nārāyaṇīya account, stating that he has narrated it to Śaunaka, in the presence of the sages residing in the Naimiṣa Forest, because Śaunaka asked for it.