Shloka 20
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
न्यमन्त्रयेतां राजानं कि कार्य क्रियतामिति । ततस्तामानुपूर्वी स पुनरेवान्वकीर्तयत्
nyamantrayētāṃ rājānaṃ kiṃ kāryaṃ kriyatām iti | tataḥ tām ānupūrvīṃ sa punar evānvakīrtayat ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：那罗与那罗延邀请国王，说：“我们当为您做何等侍奉？”于是他又一次依次第、如实无遗地复述了自己出使的全部经过——他如何恭敬趋近，俯首礼拜于二圣足下，又如何蒙受合乎礼法的款待：赐座、奉水、供以果实与根茎，并请其用膳。此一场景彰显了以敬礼尊崇宾客与君王之德，以及在求问法义之事时，须以真实而有条理的叙述陈明始末。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma through hospitality and humility: worthy hosts ask what service they can render, and the guest responds with truthful, orderly speech. Ethical conduct is shown in honoring a visitor/king and in narrating events accurately when seeking guidance.
After being welcomed, the king is asked by Nara and Nārāyaṇa what they should do for him. In response, he recounts his entire story again, step by step, as it happened.