Shloka 46
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
उवाच च महीपालो दुःखशोकसमन्वित: । दुर्धरं वाष्पमुत्सृज्य स्पृष्टवा चापो यथाविधि,राजाने दो घड़ीतक ध्यान करके मन-ही-मन कुछ निश्चय किया, फिर दुःख-शोक और अमर्षमें डूबे हुए नरेश न थमनेवाले आँसुओंकी अविच्छिन्न धारा बहाते हुए विधिपूर्वक जलका स्पर्श करके सम्पूर्ण मन्त्रियोंसे इस प्रकार बोले--
uvāca ca mahīpālo duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ | durdharaṃ vāṣpam utsṛjya spṛṣṭvā cāpo yathāvidhi rājānaṃś ca mantribhiḥ saha tathābravīt ||
ثم إن الملك، وقد غمره الحزن والأسى، أرسل دمعًا لا يُكبح سيلُه. وبعد أن مسَّ الماء على الوجه المأثور وفق الشعيرة، خاطب الوزراء المجتمعين وتكلّم بما يليق—إذ كان قد ثبّت عزمه في باطنه بتأمّلٍ راسخ.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in intense grief, a ruler is expected to act within dharma: he steadies his mind, performs the proper rite (touching water as prescribed), and then speaks to his ministers—showing that emotion should be disciplined by ethical and ritual order before public decision.
A king, overcome with sorrow, weeps uncontrollably. After composing himself enough to perform a formal purification/ritual gesture by touching water, he turns to his ministers and begins to state his decision or intention.