Shloka 64
Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections
जनमेजयने पूछा--भगवन्! शोभामयी श्रुतावतीकी माता कौन थी और वह कहाँ पली थी? यह मैं सुनना चाहता हूँ। विप्रवर! इसके लिये मेरे मनमें बड़ी उत्कण्ठा हो रही है। वैशम्पायन उवाच भरद्वाजस्य विद्रष्षे: स्कन्ने रेतो महात्मन:
janamejayena pṛṣṭaḥ—bhagavan! śobhāmayī śrutāvatīkī mātā kaun thī, sā ca kutra palitā? etat śrotum icchāmi. vipravara! asya me manasi mahān utkaṇṭhā jāyate. vaiśampāyana uvāca—bharadvājasya vidraṣṭuḥ skanne reto mahātmanaḥ…
Janamejaya perguntou: “Ó venerável, quem foi a mãe da radiante Śrutāvatī, e onde ela foi criada? Desejo ouvir. Ó melhor dos brāhmaṇas, um grande anseio surgiu em meu coração para sabê-lo.” Vaiśampāyana respondeu: “Escuta: do grande sábio Bharadvāja, quando a sua semente foi emitida…”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the traditional epic method of ethical-historical learning: sincere inquiry (utkaṇṭhā) directed to a qualified teacher (vipravara) becomes the doorway to understanding lineage, responsibility, and the hidden causes behind later events.
King Janamejaya asks the narrator Vaiśampāyana about Śrutāvatī—specifically her mother and upbringing. Vaiśampāyana begins the backstory by introducing the origin connected with the sage Bharadvāja, indicating a forthcoming account of conception and lineage.