Shloka 17
स पूर्वदेवचरितं तदा तत्र विशाम्पते । कथयामास दैतेय: पाण्डुपुत्रेषु भारत,जनमेजय! दैत्ययाज मयने उस समय वहाँ पाण्डवोंको दैत्योंके अद्भुत चरित्र सुनाये
sa pūrvadevacaritaṃ tadā tatra viśāṃpate | kathayāmāsa daiteyaḥ pāṇḍuputreṣu bhārata janamejaya |
毗湿摩耶那说道：噢，民众之主啊，当时就在那处，达底耶（摩耶）在般度诸子之间讲述了上古诸天的奇异事迹。噢，婆罗多族的贾那梅阇耶啊，他将这些非凡传说叙说给般度五子听。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how epic narrative transmits moral and cosmic perspective: even a powerful Asura figure (Maya) situates human affairs within older divine precedents, implying that skill, power, and marvels should be understood against the backdrop of dharma and the world’s established order.
Vaiśampāyana continues his report to King Janamejaya: at that moment, Maya the Daitya is present with the Pāṇḍavas and is recounting ancient stories—specifically the deeds of the gods—thereby entertaining and informing them with extraordinary mythic accounts.