Shloka 142
कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः
Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma
एतदिच्छामि देवेश श्रोतु ब्राह्मणकाम्यया । त्वत्त: कमलपत्राक्ष विस्तरेण यथातथम्,'देवेश्वर! कमलनयन! ब्राह्मणमें जो सहज जिज्ञासा होती है, उससे प्रेरित होकर मैं आपसे यह सब बातें यथाविधि विस्तारपूर्वक सुनना चाहता हूँ
etad icchāmi deveśa śrotuṁ brāhmaṇakāmyayā | tvattaḥ kamalapatrākṣa vistareṇa yathātatham ||
देवेश! कमलपत्राक्ष! ब्राह्मणोचित सहज जिज्ञासेने प्रेरित होऊन, मी तुमच्याकडून हे सर्व यथार्थपणे विस्ताराने ऐकू इच्छितो.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds a dhārmic ideal of learning: a brāhmaṇa’s duty is sincere inquiry and the pursuit of truth. It also emphasizes epistemic integrity—hearing an account “yathātatham,” exactly as it is, from a trustworthy authority.
The speaker (Vaiśaṃpāyana) addresses a divine figure with reverent epithets and requests a full, accurate explanation of the matter under discussion, signaling a transition into a more detailed narration.