Shloka 20
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
इत्यवश्यं मयैतद् वो वक्तव्यं द्विजसत्तमा: । शृणुताव्यग्रमनस: शंसतो मे यथातथम्
ity avaśyaṁ mayaitad vo vaktavyaṁ dvijasattamāḥ | śṛṇutāvyagramanasaḥ śaṁsato me yathātatham ||
«Ô meilleurs des deux-fois-nés, il est nécessaire que je vous en dise la raison. Écoutez maintenant, l’esprit paisible et sans distraction, tandis que je le rapporte en vérité, tel que cela advint.»
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes truthful narration (yathātatham) and disciplined listening (avyagramanasaḥ): ethical communication requires both a responsible speaker and attentive, calm-minded hearers.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses the assembled brāhmaṇas, stating that he must explain the cause of a matter and asking them to listen attentively as he recounts events exactly as they occurred.