सुमहत्कारणं चात्र श्रूयतां तद्वदामि वः । नाहं पराङ्मुखो जात एतावंति दिनान्यपि
sumahatkāraṇaṃ cātra śrūyatāṃ tadvadāmi vaḥ | nāhaṃ parāṅmukho jāta etāvaṃti dinānyapi
May isang napakadakilang dahilan dito—makinig kayo, sasabihin ko sa inyo. Sa lahat ng mga araw na ito, hindi ako kailanman tumalikod sa dharma at sa wastong tungkulin.
Kūrma
Listener: Kauśika and the assembled arrivals
Scene: The tortoise addresses the group, inviting them to listen; the atmosphere shifts from accusation to attentive silence, foreshadowing a significant disclosure.
Dharma is upheld through steadfastness—one should not become averse or turn away from rightful conduct.
No tīrtha is directly mentioned in this verse; it functions as narrative setup for the ensuing account.
None explicitly; the verse promises an explanation grounded in dharma and right behavior.