यदि पृच्छति केनाहमाख्यात इति मां ततः । निवेद्य चैतद्वक्तव्यं त्वामाख्यायाग्निमाविशत्
yadi pṛcchati kenāhamākhyāta iti māṃ tataḥ | nivedya caitadvaktavyaṃ tvāmākhyāyāgnimāviśat
यदि पृच्छति ‘केनाहमाख्यातः’ इति मां ततः। निवेद्यैतद्वक्तव्यं—‘त्वामाख्यायाग्निमाविशत्’॥
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.