Shloka 4
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स एवमुक्तो मातरं प्रत्युवाच जनमेजयस्य भ्रातृभिरभिहतोडस्मीति,माताके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर उसने उत्तर दिया--'माँ! मुझे जनमेजयके भाइयोंने मारा है!
sa evam ukto mātaraṃ pratyuvāca—janamejayasya bhrātṛbhir abhihato ’smi iti; mātā, evaṃ prakāraṃ pṛṣṭe ’sau pratyuvāca—“māḥ! māṃ janamejayasya bhrātṛbhir hataḥ asmi.”
Thus addressed, he replied to his mother: “Mother, I have been struck by the brothers of Janamejaya.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and emotional fallout of violence within or between closely connected families: harm done by one’s kin (or a ruler’s kin) returns as sorrow to the home, with the mother confronted by the stark truth of loss.
A son, questioned by his mother, reports the cause of his death/defeat: he has been struck down by Janamejaya’s brothers. The exchange is framed as a direct reply (pratyuvāca) to a mother’s inquiry.