Shloka 303
Pāṇḍu’s Marriages, Conquests, and Triumphal Return (पाण्डोर्विवाह-विजय-प्रत्यागमनम्)
सत्यवत्यथ वीक्ष्यैनमुवाचेदमनन्तरम् । विधि और मन्त्रोच्चारणपूर्वक की हुई उस पूजासे व्यासजी बहुत प्रसन्न हुए। जब वे आसनपर बैठ गये
satyavaty atha vīkṣyainam uvācedam anantaram | vidhimantroccāraṇapūrvakakṛtayā pūjayā vyāsajī bahu prasannaḥ | yadā sa āsane niṣaṇṇaḥs tadā mātā satyavatī tasya kuśalakṣemaṃ papraccha, taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā evam uvāca —
Then Satyavatī, looking upon him, spoke these words immediately thereafter. By the worship performed according to proper rite and with the recitation of mantras, Vyāsa was greatly pleased. When he had taken his seat, Mother Satyavatī inquired after his welfare and safety, and, gazing at him, addressed him in this manner.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharmic conduct through proper hospitality and ritual reverence: worship performed according to vidhi and mantra pleases the revered guest, and ethical speech begins with concern for another’s kuśala-kṣema (welfare and safety).
After Vyāsa is honored with a riteful, mantra-accompanied pūjā and takes his seat, Satyavatī—his mother—asks about his well-being and then begins to speak to him, setting up the ensuing request or counsel.