Shloka 1
Āstīka’s Commission and Approach to Janamejaya’s Sarpa-satra (आस्तीक-प्रेषणं यज्ञप्रवेशोपक्रमश्च)
न 2ॉजजि:इ: एकोनपज्चाशत्तमो<ड्ध्याय: राजा परीक्षित्॒के धर्ममय आचार तथा उत्तम गुणोंका वर्णन, राजाका शिकारके लिये जाना और उनके द्वारा शमीक मुनिका तिरस्कार शौनक उवाच यदपृच्छत् तदा राजा मन्त्रिणो जनमेजय: । पितुः स्वर्गगतिं तन््मे विस्तरेण पुनर्वद,शौनकजी बोले--सूतनन्दन! राजा जनमेजयने (उत्तंककी बात सुनकर) अपने पिता परीक्षितके स्वर्गवासके सम्बन्धमें मन्त्रियोंसे जो पूछ-ताछ की थी, उसका आप विस्तारपूर्वक पुनः वर्णन कीजिये
Śaunaka uvāca | yad apṛcchat tadā rājā mantriṇo Janamejayaḥ | pituḥ svargagatiṁ tan me vistareṇa punar vada ||
Śaunaka said: “O son of Sūta, recount again in detail what King Janamejaya asked his ministers at that time—namely, the account of his father Parīkṣit’s passage to heaven.”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical value of careful inquiry into a ruler’s fate and conduct: important matters—especially concerning dharma and a king’s end—should be sought from reliable witnesses and narrated with clarity and detail.
Śaunaka requests the Sūta’s son (the narrator) to retell, in full detail, the earlier moment when King Janamejaya questioned his ministers about his father’s ‘svargagati’—his passing and attainment of heaven (contextually, King Parīkṣit).