Devanagari
तत्राहुर्ब्राह्मणा: केचिदासीना ब्रह्मवादिन: ।
पूर्वेषां पुण्ययशसां राज्ञां चाकथयन् कथा: ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
tatrāhur brāhmaṇāḥ kecid
āsīnā brahma-vādinaḥ
pūrveṣāṁ puṇya-yaśasāṁ
rājṣāṁ cākathayan kathāḥ
Synonyms
tatra
—
there
;
āhuḥ
—
spoke
;
brāhmaṇāḥ
—
brāhmaṇas
;
kecit
—
some
;
āsīnāḥ
—
seated
;
brahma
—
in the Vedas
;
vādinaḥ
—
fluent
;
pūrveṣām
—
of those of the past
;
puṇya
—
pious
;
yaśasām
—
whose fame
;
rājṣām
—
of kings
;
ca
—
and
;
ākathayan
—
they recounted
;
kathāḥ
—
stories .
Translation
Some brāhmaṇas sitting in that assembly hall would fluently chant Vedic mantras, while others recounted stories of past kings of pious renown.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Some brāhmaṇas sitting in that assembly hall would fluently chant Vedic mantras, while others recounted stories of past kings of pious renown.
KB 10.70.21
Sometimes the learned brāhmaṇas present in that assembly would chant Vedic hymns and explain them to the audience to the best of their knowledge, and sometimes some of them would recite old historical accounts of the activities of prominent kings. The Lord, accompanied by His associates, would be very much pleased to hear them.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Brahmanas chanted the Vedas (brahma ahuh) and those expert at speaking (vadinah) related stories of pious kings.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Brāhmaṇas who knew the meaning of the Vedas, chanted the Vedas. Other persons recited stories from the itihāsas and Purāṇas.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
Brāhmaṇas who knew the meaning of the Vedas, or discussed the Vedas, chanted the Vedas. Other persons recited stories from the itihāsas and Purāṇas.