उवाच च निजां वार्तां कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः । स पृष्टस्तापसैः सर्वैः सुविस्मयसमन्वितैः
uvāca ca nijāṃ vārtāṃ kṛtāṃjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ | sa pṛṣṭastāpasaiḥ sarvaiḥ suvismayasamanvitaiḥ
Dengan kedua telapak tangan terkatup, ia berdiri dan menceritakan kisahnya sendiri; sebab semua pertapa telah menanyainya, penuh keheranan yang besar.
Narrator introducing the king’s speech (king speaks next)
Scene: The king stands before seated ascetics, hands folded; the sages lean forward with widened eyes and attentive faces, indicating astonishment as he begins recounting his ordeal.
Truthful narration offered with humility before the wise is itself a dharmic act that opens the way for teaching.
The setting remains the Tīrthamāhātmya region and the sages’ hermitage; no specific tīrtha name appears in this verse.
No formal rite; it models respectful posture (añjali) and proper speech before ascetics.