Shloka 31
Ṛśyaśṛṅgopākhyāna-praveśaḥ — Lomāśa narrates the origins of Ṛśyaśṛṅga and the Anga drought (ऋश्यशृङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रवेशः)
एतन्मे भगवन् सर्व विस्तरेण यथातथम् । वक्तुमहसि शुश्रूषोरऋष्यशृज्गस्य चेष्टितम्,भगवन्! ये सब बातें आप विस्तारपूर्वक यथार्थ-रूपसे बताइये। मैं महर्षि ऋष्यशुंगके चरित्रको सुनना चाहता हूँ
etan me bhagavan sarva vistareṇa yathātatham | vaktum arhasi śuśrūṣor ṛṣyaśṛṅgasya ceṣṭitam, bhagavan ||
“O Mapagpala, isalaysay mo sa akin ang lahat ng ito nang ganap at ayon sa tunay na nangyari. Sabik akong makinig; kaya, o kagalang-galang na pantas, isalaysay mo sa akin ang mga gawa at buhay ni Ṛṣyaśṛṅga.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dharmic learning: a seeker approaches a worthy teacher with humility, asks for truth ‘as it happened’ (yathātatham), and values careful listening (śuśrūṣā). Ethical understanding is presented as arising from accurate narration and attentive reception.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the sage narrating the episode and requests a full, accurate account of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s deeds. This functions as a transition into the Ṛṣyaśṛṅga-upākhyāna (embedded tale) within the Vana Parva.