Shloka 7
धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च प्रजापाल: पिता तव | आसीदिह यथावृत्त: स महात्मा शृणुष्व तत्,महाराज! आपके पिता बड़े धर्मात्मा, महात्मा और प्रजापालक थे। वे महामना नरेश इस जगत्में जैसे आचार-व्यवहारका पालन करते थे, वह सुनो
janamejaya uvāca | dharmātmā ca mahātmā ca prajā-pālaḥ pitā tava | āsīd iha yathāvṛttaḥ sa mahātmā śṛṇuṣva tat ||
The ministers said: “Your father was righteous in spirit and truly great-souled, a protector of his subjects. Hear now how that noble man conducted himself in this world—how his life and conduct were in accordance with proper practice.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ideal of kingship rooted in dharma: a ruler should be noble in character (dharmātmā, mahātmā) and actively protect and sustain the people (prajā-pālaḥ). Ethical governance is presented as personal virtue expressed through public responsibility.
Janamejaya addresses a king and introduces an account of that king’s father, emphasizing his righteousness and role as a protector of subjects. The verse functions as a transition into a fuller narration of the father’s life and conduct.