Shloka 21
अविलम्बमनायस्तमद्रुतं धीरमूर्जितम् । असंसक्ताक्षरपदं स्वरभावसमन्वितम्
avilambam anāyastam adrutaṃ dhīram ūrjitam | asaṃsaktākṣarapadaṃ svarabhāvasamanvitam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dijo: «La recitación no debe demorarse ni hacerse con esfuerzo forzado, ni tampoco precipitarse. Ha de avanzar con serenidad y vigor, articulando con claridad sílabas y palabras sin encadenarlas, y armonizando la voz con el sentimiento. Así el narrador expone dulcemente el sentido y vuelve el relato inteligible y eficaz.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined, ethical speech in sacred narration: avoid dragging or rushing, speak without strain, articulate syllables and words distinctly, and align tone with intended emotion so the listener understands the meaning clearly.
Vaiśampāyana gives a normative instruction about how a kathā-vācaka (narrator/reciter) should deliver the Mahābhārata—setting standards for pace, clarity of pronunciation, and expressive tone as part of proper transmission of the tradition.