Shloka 163
Jaratkāru’s Conditional Marriage Vow and Vāsuki’s Offer (जरत्कारु-विवाह-नियमः)
शमीकवचरन घोरं यथोक्तं मन्सत्रिसन्निधौ | महाराज परीक्षितने उस समय गौरमुख ब्राह्मणका बड़ा सत्कार किया। जब उसने विश्राम कर लिया, तब शमीकके कहे हुए घोर वचनको मन्त्रियोंके समीप राजाके सामने पूर्णरूपसे कह सुनाया
śamīka uvāca — śamīkavacaraṇ ghoraṃ yathoktaṃ mantrisannidhau | mahārājaḥ parīkṣit tasmin samaye gauramukha-brāhmaṇasya mahān satkāraṃ cakāra | yadā sa viśrāntaḥ, tadā śamīkena uktaṃ ghoraṃ vacanaṃ mantriṣu samīpe rājñaḥ samakṣaṃ pūrṇarūpeṇa kathayām āsa ||
Śamīka sprach: In Gegenwart der Minister erwies König Parīkṣit damals dem hellgesichtigen Brahmanen große Ehre. Nachdem der Brahmane geruht hatte, berichtete er dem König vollständig und genau, wie es gesprochen worden war, die harten und schrecklichen Worte, die Śamīka geäußert hatte.
शमीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical governance: a king should act with public decorum, consult ministers, and treat brāhmaṇas respectfully; yet he must also recognize that harsh speech—especially from ascetics—can carry serious moral and social consequences.
Parīkṣit respectfully receives a brāhmaṇa and, after the guest rests, the king is informed—before his ministers—of the severe words spoken by Śamīka, setting the stage for the unfolding curse-related events in the Parīkṣit episode.