Shloka 4
Nāga-prādhānya-nāma-kathana
Principal Nāga Names Enumerated
सौतिर्वाच विषयो<यं पुराणस्य यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि । शृणु मे वदत: सर्वमेतत् संक्षेपतो द्विज,उग्रश्रवाजीने कहा--ब्रह्मन! आप मुझसे जो पूछ रहे हैं, वह पुराणका ही विषय है। मैं संक्षेपमें ये सब बातें बता रहा हूँ, सुनिये
sautir uvāca viṣayo 'yaṃ purāṇasya yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi | śṛṇu me vadataḥ sarvam etat saṃkṣepato dvija ||
Ugraśravas, filho do Sūta, disse: «Ó brâmane, o que me perguntas diz respeito ao próprio tema da tradição purânica. Ouve-me falar; relatarei tudo isso em resumo.»
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the proper mode of receiving sacred tradition: respectful inquiry by the listener and responsible, concise instruction by the narrator, framing the Mahābhārata’s account as part of venerable ancient lore (purāṇic subject-matter).
Ugraśravas (Sauti) responds to a Brahmin’s question, stating that the inquiry pertains to ancient sacred tradition and promising to recount the requested matter succinctly.