यदि पृच्छति केनाहमाख्यात इति मां ततः । निवेद्य चैतद्वक्तव्यं त्वामाख्यायाग्निमाविशत्
yadi pṛcchati kenāhamākhyāta iti māṃ tataḥ | nivedya caitadvaktavyaṃ tvāmākhyāyāgnimāviśat
Jika dia bertanya, “Dengan siapa aku telah diberitahu kepada kamu?”, maka setelah memaklumkan kepadaku, hendaklah engkau berkata: “Setelah mengenal pasti tuan, dia telah masuk ke dalam api.”
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)
Scene: A seeker, hands folded, answers Saṃvarta’s sharp question about who identified him; in the background, a symbolic flame indicates the earlier ‘entered the fire’ event, rendered as a memory vignette.
Truthfulness and accountability in speech are emphasized—even strategic actions ultimately face the demand for honest disclosure.
Kāśī/Vārāṇasī as the narrative arena where sages’ austerity and dharma-testing unfold.
No public ritual is taught; the verse mentions agni-praveśa as an extraordinary narrative act.