Shloka 6
Deva–Asura–Gandharva–Nāga Vaṃśa-kathana
Genealogies and Partial Descents
शौनक उवाच महाभारतमाख्यानं पाण्डवानां यशस्करम् | जनमेजयेन पृष्ट: सन् कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा,शौनकजी बोले--सूतनन्दन! महाभारत नामक इतिहास तो पाण्डवोंके यशका विस्तार करनेवाला है। सर्पयज्ञके विभिन्न कर्मोके बीचमें अवकाश मिलने-पर जब राजा जनमेजय प्रश्न करते, तब श्रीकृष्ण-द्वैपायन व्यासजी उन्हें विधिपूर्वक महाभारतकी कथा सुनाते थे। मैं उसी पुण्यमयी कथाको विधिपूर्वक सुनना चाहता हूँ
śaunaka uvāca: mahābhāratam ākhyānaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ yaśaskaram | janamejayena pṛṣṭaḥ san kṛṣṇadvaipāyanas tadā ||
绍那迦说道：“名为《摩诃婆罗多》的叙事，是般度族（般度五子）的声名之源。阎摩那迦耶王在蛇祭诸仪之间发问之时，克里希那·德外帕亚那·毗耶娑便依次第、如法为他讲述《摩诃婆罗多》的故事。”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and pedagogical frame of the epic: the Mahābhārata is not merely entertainment but a tradition transmitted through respectful questioning and authoritative instruction, preserving the Pāṇḍavas’ legacy and offering guidance through remembered history (itihāsa).
Śaunaka, addressing the storyteller’s line, recalls that during Janamejaya’s serpent-sacrifice, the king would ask questions, and Vyāsa would respond by narrating the Mahābhārata in proper sequence; this sets up the request to hear that same sacred account.