Shloka 16
नारदेन दिव्यसभाः कथितुं प्रतिज्ञा
Nārada’s Prelude to Describing the Divine Assemblies
किंद्रव्यास्ता: सभा ब्रह्मन् किंविस्तारा: किमायता: । पितामहं च के तस्यां सभायां पर्युपासते,“ब्रह्म! उन सभाओंका निर्माण किस द्रव्यसे हुआ है? उनकी लंबाई-चौड़ाई कितनी है? ब्रह्माजीकी उस दिव्य-सभामें कौन-कौन सभासद् उन्हें चारों ओरसे घेरकर बैठते हैं?
kiṁ dravyāstāḥ sabhā brahman kiṁ vistārāḥ kim āyatāḥ | pitāmahaṁ ca ke tasyāṁ sabhāyāṁ paryupāsate ||
Nārada dit : «Ô brahmane, de quelles matières sont faites ces salles d’assemblée ? Quelles en sont les dimensions — leur largeur et leur longueur ? Et dans la salle divine de Pitāmaha (Brahmā), quels sont ceux qui siègent autour de lui pour le servir ?»
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models disciplined inquiry (praśna) directed toward understanding divine order: it asks about the constitution, measure, and attendants of Brahmā’s sabhā, implying that true knowledge begins with precise questions and reverent attention to hierarchy and duty in a court/assembly.
Nārada is questioning about the divine assembly-halls—specifically the hall of Pitāmaha (Brahmā): what they are made of, how large they are, and who sits around Brahmā as his attendants in that celestial court.