व्यासशिष्यः पुराणज्ञो समः हर्षणसंज्ञकः । तान्प्रणम्य यथान्यायं मुनीनुपविवेश सः । उपविष्टो यथान्यायं मुनीनां वचनेन सः
vyāsaśiṣyaḥ purāṇajño samaḥ harṣaṇasaṃjñakaḥ | tānpraṇamya yathānyāyaṃ munīnupaviveśa saḥ | upaviṣṭo yathānyāyaṃ munīnāṃ vacanena saḥ
Era discípulo de Vyāsa, conocedor de los Purāṇas, de ánimo ecuánime, y llamado Harṣaṇa. Tras postrarse ante aquellos sabios según el debido rito, se sentó junto a ellos; y, habiendo tomado asiento conforme a la etiqueta, lo hizo a petición de los munis.
Sūta (identified here as Harṣaṇa, disciple of Vyāsa)
Listener: munis
Scene: The sūta bows with folded hands to the seated sages; they gesture to a place of honor. He sits modestly, manuscript bundle at his side, eyes lowered in humility.
Authentic teaching rests on paramparā (lineage) and humility—knowledge is carried by one who bows properly and speaks by elders’ invitation.
No specific tīrtha is praised in this verse; it establishes the authority of the narrator who will expound the māhātmya.
No ritual is prescribed; the verse emphasizes proper conduct (yathā-nyāya) in approaching sages.