Shloka 31
Svargārohaṇa-parva Adhyāya 5 — Karmaphala-Nirdeśa and Phalāśruti (कर्मफलनिर्देशः फलश्रुतिश्च)
सौतिर्वाच एतच्छुत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठा:स राजा जनमेजय: । विस्मितो5भवदत्यर्थ यज्ञकर्मान्तरेष्वथ
sautir uvāca etac chrutvā dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ sa rājā janamejayaḥ | vismito 'bhavad atyarthaṁ yajñakarmāntareṣv atha ||
Sauti nói: “Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong hàng lưỡng sinh, nghe câu chuyện ấy vào những quãng nghỉ giữa các nghi lễ tế tự, vua Janamejaya vô cùng kinh ngạc.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the power of attentive listening (śravaṇa) to itihāsa: even amid ritual action, hearing the Mahābhārata evokes deep reflection and moral awe, suggesting that wisdom is transmitted not only through rites but through narrative understanding.
Sauti addresses the assembled brāhmaṇas and reports that King Janamejaya, during breaks in the sacrificial proceedings, heard the unfolding account and became greatly astonished at what was narrated.