Shloka 3
Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्
मातलिनरिदेनैवं सम्पृष्ट: पथि गच्छता । यथावत् सर्वमाचष्ट स्वकार्य नारदं प्रति
Mātalinā idam evaṁ sampṛṣṭaḥ pathi gacchatā | yathāvat sarvam ācāṣṭa svakāryaṁ Nāradaṁ prati ||
Kaṇva said: Thus questioned while he was travelling on the road, Mātali related everything exactly as it had occurred, addressing his account to Nārada in connection with his own mission.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical narration: when questioned, one should report matters yathāvat—truthfully and in proper order—especially when the account concerns one’s duty or mission.
Kaṇva describes a scene where someone travelling is questioned by Mātali on the way and then gives a complete, accurate report to Nārada, framing it in relation to his own assigned task.