Shloka 3
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 96 — काश्यकन्याहरणं, शाल्वसमागमः, अम्बावचनं च
Kāśī princesses taken; encounter with Śālva; Ambā’s declaration
एतामेव कथां दिव्यामाप्रजापतितो मनो: । तेषामाजनन पुण्यं कस्य न प्रीतिमावहेत्,परंतु संक्षेपसे कहा हुआ यह प्रिय आख्यान सुनकर मुझे पूर्णतः तृप्ति नहीं हो रही है। अत: आप पुनः विस्तारपूर्वक मुझसे इसी दिव्य कथाका वर्णन कीजिये। दक्ष प्रजापति और मनुसे लेकर उन सब राजाओंका पवित्र जन्म-प्रसंग किसको प्रसन्न नहीं करेगा?
Janamejaya uvāca: etām eva kathāṁ divyām ā-prajāpatito manoḥ | teṣām ājananaṁ puṇyaṁ kasya na prītim āvahet | parantu saṁkṣepataḥ kathitaṁ idaṁ priya-ākhyānaṁ śrutvā me manaḥ pūrṇatṛptiṁ na gacchati | ataḥ bhavān punaḥ vistara-pūrvakaṁ mayā saha asyā eva divya-kathāyāḥ varṇanaṁ karotu | Dakṣa-prajāpatiṁ ca Manuṁ ca ārabhya teṣāṁ sarveṣāṁ rājñāṁ pavitra-janma-prasaṅgaḥ kasya na prasādaṁ janayet ||
ప్రజాపతి నుండి మనువు వరకు ఈ దివ్యకథే—ఆ రాజుల పుణ్య జననవృత్తాంతం—ఎవరి హృదయాన్ని ఆనందింపజేయదు?
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the value of sacred genealogical memory: hearing the origins of righteous lineages is considered purifying (puṇya) and naturally delightful (prīti). It also models an ideal listener—one who seeks clarity and completeness rather than being satisfied with a mere summary.
King Janamejaya, the inquirer, tells the narrator that the divine account from Prajāpati to Manu and the kings’ births has been told only briefly. He requests that the same story be retold in greater detail, beginning with Dakṣa Prajāpati and Manu.