Shloka 176
इति श्रीमहाभारते आदिपर्वणि चैत्ररथपर्वणि वासिछ्े सौदाससुतोत्पत्तौ षट्सप्तत्यधिकशततमो<ध्याय:
iti śrīmahābhārate ādiparvaṇi caitrarathaparvaṇi vāsiṣṭhe saudāsasutotpattau ṣaṭsaptatyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ
Thus ends the one-hundred-and-seventy-sixth chapter of the Ādi Parva of the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the Caitraratha section, in the episode concerning Vasiṣṭha and the birth of the son of Saudāsa. The closing formula marks the completion of this narrative unit and signals a transition to what follows.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
This line is a colophon rather than a didactic verse: it teaches how the Mahābhārata organizes and authenticates its narration—by clearly marking the end of a chapter and naming the section and episode, preserving textual order and context.
The narrative unit concerning Vasiṣṭha and the birth of Saudāsa’s son has concluded; the text formally closes the chapter and prepares the reader/listener for the next chapter’s continuation.