Shloka 28
अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope
अलंकृतं शुभै: शब्दै: समयैर्दिव्यमानुषै: । छन््दोवृत्तैश्न विविधैरन्वितं विदुषां प्रियम्,यह शुभ (ललित एवं मंगलमय) शब्दविन्याससे अलंकृत है तथा वैदिक-लौकिक या संस्कृत-प्राकृत संकेतोंसे सुशोभित है। अनुष्टप्, इन्द्रवज्ञा आदि नाना प्रकारके छन््द भी इसमें प्रयुक्त हुए हैं; अतः यह ग्रन्थ विद्वानोंकों बहुत ही प्रिय है
alaṅkṛtaṃ śubhaiḥ śabdaiḥ samayair divya-mānuṣaiḥ | chandovṛttaiś ca vividhair anvitaṃ viduṣāṃ priyam ||
It is embellished with auspicious and graceful diction, and adorned with conventions drawn from both the divine (Vedic) and human (worldly) spheres. Composed in many kinds of metrical patterns, it is therefore especially dear to the learned.
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the Mahābhārata’s literary and cultural authority: it unites auspicious, elegant language with both sacred (Vedic) and worldly conventions, and employs diverse meters—hence it is valued by scholars. Implicitly, it presents the text as a trustworthy and refined vehicle for dharma and instruction.
In the opening of the Ādi Parva, the work is being introduced and commended. This verse functions as a eulogy of the epic’s composition—its diction, conventions, and metrical variety—rather than advancing plot events.