Critical Edition
लोमहर्षणपुत्र उग्रश्रवाः सूतः पौराणिको नैमिषारण्ये शौनकस्य कुलपतेर्द्वादशवार्षिके सत्रे ऋषीनभ्यागतानुपतस्थे
M. N. Dutt: Lomaharshana's son Ugrashrava Sauti, well-read in the Puranas, being present at the twelve years' sacrifice of Kulapati Shaunaka in the forest of Naimisha, stood before the Rishis in attendance.
पौराणिकः पुराणे कृतश्रमः स तान्कृताञ्जलिरुवाच किं भवन्तः श्रोतुमिच्छन्ति किमहं ब्रुवाणीति
M. N. Dutt: Having read the Puranas with great pains he was very learned in them. Now with joined hands he addressed them thus, "What, Reverend Sirs, do you wish to hear? What am I to relate?"
Supplementary Passages:
1.4.2 Before kiṃ bhavantaḥ, D2 T G4.5 ins.: *213 मयोदङ्कस्य चरितमशेषमुक्तम् । जनमेजयस्य सर्पसत्रस्य निमित्तान्तरमिदमपि ।
तमृषय ऊचुः परमं लोमहर्षणे प्रक्ष्यामस्त्वां वक्ष्यसि च नः शुश्रूषतां कथायोगम् तद्भगवांस्तु तावच्छौनकोऽग्निशरणमध्यास्ते
AI Translation: The sages said: O Lomaharshana, we shall ask you the supreme question, and you will tell us, if we are attentive, the story. Now the revered Shunaḥ
योऽसौ दिव्याः कथा वेद देवतासुरसंकथाः मनुष्योरगगन्धर्वकथा वेद च सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: He knows the divine stories relating to the Devas and Asuras. He also knows the stories relating to men, Nagas and Gandharvas.
स चाप्यस्मिन्मखे सौते विद्वान्कुलपतिर्द्विजः दक्षो धृतव्रतो धीमाञ्शास्त्रे चारण्यके गुरुः
M. N. Dutt: O Sauti, that Kulapati Brahmana is the chief in this sacrifice; he is able, faithful to his vows, wise and a master of the Shastras and Aranyakas.
सत्यवादी शमपरस्तपस्वी नियतव्रतः सर्वेषामेव नो मान्यः स तावत्प्रतिपाल्यताम्
M. N. Dutt: He is truthful, a lover of peace, a Rishi of hard austerities and an observer of the ordained penances. He is respected by all of us and we should, therefore, wait for him.
तस्मिन्नध्यासति गुरावासनं परमार्चितम् ततो वक्ष्यसि यत्त्वां स प्रक्ष्यति द्विजसत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: When he will sit on the highly honoured seat for the preceptor, you will reply to what best of the twice born will ask you.
सूत उवाच एवमस्तु गुरौ तस्मिन्नुपविष्टे महात्मनि तेन पृष्टः कथाः पुण्या वक्ष्यामि विविधाश्रयाः
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said: So be it. When the noble Rishi will be seated, I shall relate sacred stories relating to variety of subjects as I shall be asked by him.
सोऽथ विप्रर्षभः कार्यं कृत्वा सर्वं यथाक्रमम् देवान्वाग्भिः पितॄनद्भिस्तर्पयित्वाजगाम ह
AI Translation: Then the bull among Brahmins, having performed all the tasks in due order, Having satisfied the gods with words and the ancestors with water, he went.
यत्र ब्रह्मर्षयः सिद्धास्त आसीना यतव्रताः यज्ञायतनमाश्रित्य सूतपुत्रपुरःसराः
AI Translation: Where the Brahmarishis, the Siddhas, the ascetics of restrained vows, Having resorted to the sacrificial ground, with the son of Sūta at the forefront,
ऋत्विक्ष्वथ सदस्येषु स वै गृहपतिस्ततः उपविष्टेषूपविष्टः शौनकोऽथाब्रवीदिदम्
M. N. Dutt: When Shaunaka was seated in the midst of Ritviks and Sadasyas (members) who also had come to their places, Sauti spoke as follows.