Shloka 21
अविलम्बमनायस्तमद्रुतं धीरमूर्जितम् । असंसक्ताक्षरपदं स्वरभावसमन्वितम्
avilambam anāyastam adrutaṃ dhīram ūrjitam | asaṃsaktākṣarapadaṃ svarabhāvasamanvitam ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「語りは、いたずらに滞って苦しくなってはならず、また急ぎすぎてもならない。落ち着きと力をもって一定の歩みで進め、音節と語を明瞭に発し、だらりと連ねず、声と情趣とを調和させよ。そうしてこそ語り手は、甘やかに意を伝え、物語を分かりやすく、しかも効き目あるものとする。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined, ethical speech in sacred narration: avoid dragging or rushing, speak without strain, articulate syllables and words distinctly, and align tone with intended emotion so the listener understands the meaning clearly.
Vaiśampāyana gives a normative instruction about how a kathā-vācaka (narrator/reciter) should deliver the Mahābhārata—setting standards for pace, clarity of pronunciation, and expressive tone as part of proper transmission of the tradition.