Shloka 18
Mātali’s Proposal for Guṇakeśī and Sumukha’s Audience with Indra
कण्व उवाच मातलिस्त्वेकमव्यग्र: सततं संनिरीक्ष्य वै पप्रच्छ नारदं तत्र प्रीतिमानिव चाभवत्,कण्व मुनि कहते हैं--राजन! तब मातलि स्थिरतापूर्वक एक नागका निरन्तर निरीक्षण करके प्रसन्न-से हो उठे और उन्होंने नारदजीसे पूछा
kaṇva uvāca | mātalis tv ekam avyagraḥ satataṃ saṃnirīkṣya vai papraccha nāradaṃ tatra prītimān iva cābhavat |
Kaṇva dit : Alors Mātali, sans se laisser distraire, ne cessa d’observer avec constance un certain nāga. Comme s’il en éprouvait de la joie, il interrogea Nārada en ce lieu même—sa curiosité et sa satisfaction laissant entendre que ce qu’il voyait portait un sens au-delà de la simple apparence.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined attention (avyagra) and respectful inquiry: careful observation followed by questioning a wise authority (Nārada) is presented as the proper way to understand signs, beings, or situations with deeper implications.
Kaṇva narrates that Mātali closely watches a particular nāga for some time; appearing pleased by what he perceives, he then turns to Nārada and asks him about it, setting up an explanatory exchange.