Shloka 4
Deva–Asura–Gandharva–Nāga Vaṃśa-kathana
Genealogies and Partial Descents
या बभूवु: कथ॒त्षित्रा येष्वर्थेषु यथातथम् | त्वत्त इच्छामहे श्रोतुं सौते त्वं वै प्रचक्ष्व न:,जिसका पार होना कठिन था, ऐसे सर्पयज्ञमें आये हुए महात्माओं एवं सभासदोंको जब यज्ञकर्मसे अवकाश मिलता था, उस समय उनमें जिन-जिन विषयोंको लेकर जो-जो विचित्र कथाएँ होती थीं उन सबका आपके मुखसे हम यथार्थ वर्णन सुनना चाहते हैं। सूतनन्दन! आप हमसे अवश्य कहें
yā babhūvuḥ kathāś citrā yeṣv artheṣu yathātatham | tvatta icchāmahe śrotuṃ saute tvaṃ vai pracakṣva naḥ ||
O Sauti, we wish to hear from you a faithful account of all those varied and remarkable discussions that arose among the great sages and assembled elders who had come to that difficult-to-complete serpent-sacrifice—whenever the ritual proceedings allowed them leisure. Please relate them to us exactly as they occurred.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes fidelity in transmitting sacred history: the listener-community asks for an exact, undistorted narration (yathā-tatham), highlighting ethical responsibility in preserving and conveying tradition.
Śaunaka, speaking for the assembled sages, requests Sauti to recount the diverse discussions that took place among the eminent participants during intervals of the serpent-sacrifice, asking him to narrate them accurately.