Shloka 20
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
इत्यवश्यं मयैतद् वो वक्तव्यं द्विजसत्तमा: । शृणुताव्यग्रमनस: शंसतो मे यथातथम्
ity avaśyaṁ mayaitad vo vaktavyaṁ dvijasattamāḥ | śṛṇutāvyagramanasaḥ śaṁsato me yathātatham ||
“O mga pinakadakila sa mga dwija, kinakailangan kong ipahayag sa inyo ang dahilan nito. Ngayon, makinig kayo nang payapa at hindi naliligalig ang isip, habang isinasalaysay ko nang tapat, ayon sa tunay na nangyari.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes truthful narration (yathātatham) and disciplined listening (avyagramanasaḥ): ethical communication requires both a responsible speaker and attentive, calm-minded hearers.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses the assembled brāhmaṇas, stating that he must explain the cause of a matter and asking them to listen attentively as he recounts events exactly as they occurred.