Shloka 6
अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope
इसके अनन्तर जब वे सभी तपस्वी अपने-अपने आसनपर विराजमान हो गये, तब लोमहर्षणपुत्र उग्रश्रवाजीने भी उनके बताये हुए आसनको विनयपूर्वक ग्रहण किया ।। सुखासीनं ततस्तं तु विश्रान्तमुपलक्ष्य च । अथापच्छदृषिस्तत्र कश्रित् प्रस्तावयन् कथा:,तत्पश्चात् यह देखकर कि उग्रश्रवाजी थकावटसे रहित होकर आरामसे बैठे हुए हैं, किसी महर्षिने बातचीतका प्रसंग उपस्थित करते हुए यह प्रश्न पूछा--
sukhāsīnaṃ tatastam tu viśrāntam upalakṣya ca | athāpacchad ṛṣis tatra kaścit prastāvayan kathāḥ ||
Then, noticing that Ugraśravas—Lomaharṣaṇa’s son—was seated comfortably and appeared fully rested, a certain sage there, seeking to open the occasion for conversation, put a question to him.
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the etiquette of sacred discourse: when a qualified narrator is comfortably settled, the sages begin inquiry in an orderly, respectful way. It models how knowledge is transmitted—through attentive observation, proper timing, and thoughtful questioning.
After Ugraśravas (Sauti) has taken his seat among the assembled sages, one sage notices he is rested and ready. To initiate the conversation and invite narration, the sage poses a question, setting the stage for the Mahābhārata’s telling.