Shloka 9
Kāmyake Pāṇḍavānāṃ Bhojana-vyavasthā
Provisioning and Welfare in the Kāmyaka Forest
अहो नैनं भवान् वेत्ति पुराणमृषिसत्तमम् | शृणु मे वदतो ब्रह्मन् यो5यं यच्चास्य कारणम्,“महर्षे! ये महाबाहु धनंजय कुन्तीके गर्भसे उत्पन्न हुए मेरे पुत्र हैं और कुछ कारणवश अस्त्रविद्या सीखनेके लिये यहाँ आये हैं। आश्वर्य है कि आप इन पुरातन ऋषिप्रवरको नहीं जानते हैं। ब्रह्म! इनका जो स्वरूप है और इनके अवतार-ग्रहणका जो कारण है, वह सब मैं बता रहा हूँ। आप मेरे मुँहसे यह सब सुनिये
aho nainaṃ bhavān vetti purāṇam ṛṣisattamam | śṛṇu me vadato brahman yo 'yaṃ yac cāsya kāraṇam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Alas, you do not recognize this most ancient and foremost of seers. Listen, O brāhmaṇa, as I speak: I shall tell you who he is and what the cause is for his taking this form.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses discernment and reverence: one should not hastily overlook a great sage’s true identity. It also frames a traditional ethical move in the epic—authoritative narration that explains a person’s real nature and the purpose behind an assumed form.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a Brahmin listener who has failed to recognize an eminent, ancient sage. He announces that he will explain who this figure truly is and the reason for his present manifestation, preparing the audience for a revealing backstory.