Shloka 14

Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)

Devanagari script

तस्य तं॑ पुत्रमभिगम्य जनमेजय: पारीक्षित: पौरोहित्याय वत्रे,परीक्षितकुमार जनमेजयने महर्षि श्रुतश्रवाके पास जाकर उनके पुत्र सोमश्रवाका पुरोहितपदके लिये वरण किया

Transliteration

tasya taṁ putram abhigamya janamejayaḥ pārīkṣitaḥ paurohityāya vavre | parīkṣitakumāraḥ janamejayaḥ maharṣiśrutśravasaḥ samīpaṁ gatvā tasya putraṁ somaśravasaṁ purohitapade vavre ||

Translation

ولمّا قصد ابنَ ذلك الناسك، اختاره الملك جاناميجايا (Janamejaya)، ابن باريكشِت (Parikṣit)، ليكون كاهنه الملكي، أي البوروهِتا (purohita). وهكذا مضى جاناميجايا إلى الرائي العظيم شروتاشرَفا (Śrutaśravā) وولّى ابنه سوماشروَفا (Somaśravā) منصب البوروهِتا.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/of that (person)
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिगम्य: having approached
• अभिगम्य: Kriya (Purvakala)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-गम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), Non-finite

• जनमेजयः: Janamejaya
• जनमेजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun (Proper)
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पारीक्षितः: descendant of Parikshit (son of Parikshit)
• पारीक्षितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective (Patronymic/epithet)
• Root: पारीक्षित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पौरोहित्याय: for the office of priesthood
• पौरोहित्याय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरोहित्य
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• वव्रे: chose/selected
• वव्रे: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वरणे)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Parikshit
• Maharshi Shrutashravas
• Somashravas
• Purohita (royal priesthood)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should ground public and personal action in dharma by seeking qualified spiritual-intellectual guidance; appointing a learned purohita symbolizes disciplined governance and correct ritual conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Janamejaya, son of Parikshit, approaches the sage Shrutashravas and selects the sage’s son Somashravas to serve as his royal priest (purohita).