Shloka 31
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
श्र॒ुत्वा चैनं नरश्रेष्ठ पार्थिवस्थ पराभवम् | अस्य चर्षेरुतंकस्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्,महाराज! इस प्रकार तक्षकने तुम्हारे पिता राजा परीक्षित्का तिरस्कार किया है। इन महर्षि उत्तंकको भी उसने बहुत तंग किया है। यह सब तुमने सुन लिया, अब तुम जैसा उचित समझो, करो
śrutvā cainaṃ naraśreṣṭha pārthivastha-parābhavam | asya cārṣer utaṅkasya vidhatsva yad anantaram, mahārāja ||
O best of men, O great king—having heard of this humiliation of the king (your father) while he was on earth, and also of what has been done to this sage Utaṅka, now decide and carry out what should be done next. The matter has been laid before you; the responsibility for a righteous response now rests with you.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores royal accountability: once wrongdoing and humiliation are known, a king must choose a response that upholds dharma—measured, just, and mindful of consequences—rather than acting blindly from anger.
Takṣaka addresses the king (contextually Janamejaya), pointing out that the insult to the earthly king (Parīkṣit) and the harassment of the sage Utaṅka have been heard; he urges the king to determine and execute the next course of action, setting the stage for later retaliation.