युधिष्ठिर उवाच । कावेरीति च विख्याता त्रिषु लोकेषु सत्तम । माहात्म्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तस्या मार्कण्ड तत्त्वतः
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | kāverīti ca vikhyātā triṣu lokeṣu sattama | māhātmyaṃ śrotumicchāmi tasyā mārkaṇḍa tattvataḥ
Yudhiṣṭhira thưa rằng: Hỡi bậc hiền đức tối thượng, dòng sông mang danh Kāverī lừng danh khắp ba cõi. Hỡi Mārkaṇḍa, con mong được nghe uy đức của nàng theo đúng chân tướng.
Yudhiṣṭhira
Tirtha: Kāverī
Type: river
Listener: Mārkaṇḍeya (to answer)
Scene: Forest hermitage scene: Yudhiṣṭhira seated respectfully before sage Mārkaṇḍeya; behind them a river personified as a goddess (Kāverī) rises from flowing waters, indicating ‘three-world renown’.
Dharma begins with śravaṇa (reverent listening): seeking the true greatness of a sacred river refines faith and directs pilgrimage rightly.
Kāverī is introduced as a three-world-renowned sacred river, setting up the Kāverī-saṅgama (confluence) glorification in the chapter.
No rite yet; it is an inquiry initiating the māhātmya narration.