Shloka 1
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ५५ श्लोक हैं) द्विषष्टितमो5 ध्याय: महाभारतकी महत्ता जनमेजय उवाच कथितं वै समासेन त्वया सर्व द्विजोत्तम । महाभारतमाख्यानं कुरूणां चरितं महत्,जनमेजयने कहा--द्विजश्रेष्ठ! आपने कुरुवंशियोंके चरित्ररूप महान् महाभारत नामक सम्पूर्ण इतिहासका बहुत संक्षेपसे वर्णन किया है
janamejaya uvāca | kathitaṃ vai samāsena tvayā sarva dvijottama | mahābhāratam ākhyānaṃ kurūṇāṃ caritaṃ mahat ||
Sinabi ni Janamejaya: “O pinakadakila sa mga dwija! Isinalaysay mo nga—maikli man ay ganap—ang dakilang salaysay na tinatawag na Mahābhārata, ang malawak at mabigat na kasaysayan ng mga gawa at kapalaran ng angkan ng Kuru.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the Mahābhārata as a comprehensive yet summarizable itihāsa of the Kurus, implying that ethical and political wisdom (dharma in lived form) can be transmitted through a well-structured narrative tradition.
In the frame dialogue, King Janamejaya addresses the sage (dvijottama), acknowledging that the Mahābhārata—the great account of the Kurus’ deeds—has been recounted to him in a concise summary, setting up further discussion on the epic’s significance.