Shloka 16
भूमिभार-निवारणप्रसङ्गः (Bhūmibhāra-nivāraṇa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Motif of Relieving Earth’s Burden
पुनरागमनं कार्यमिति चैनं वचो<ब्रवीत् । भविष्यसि सदस्यो मे वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ,आस्तीक शुभ-संस्कारोंसे सम्पन्न और मनीषी विद्वान् थे। अपना कर्तव्य पूर्ण कर लेनेके कारण वे कृतकृत्य एवं प्रसन्न थे। राजा जनमेजयने उन्हें प्रसन्नचित्त होकर घरके लिये विदा दी और कहा--'ब्रह्मन! मेरे भावी अश्वमेध नामक महायज्ञमें आप सदस्य हों और उस समय पुनः पधारनेकी कृपा करें”
punarāgamanaṁ kāryam iti cainaṁ vaco 'bravīt | bhaviṣyasi sadasyo me vājimedhe mahākratau |
Śaunaka said: “He then spoke to him these words: ‘You should return again. You will be a member of my great sacrificial rite—the Aśvamedha. Please come back at that time.’” In context, the request reflects the king’s reverence for learned Brahmins and the ethical ideal that great public rites should be guided by qualified, disciplined counsel rather than mere royal power.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
A righteous ruler honors learning and invites qualified sages to guide major public rites; dharma in kingship includes humility, gratitude, and seeking proper counsel for actions with wide social and moral impact.
After being respectfully dismissed, the sage is requested to return later to serve as a ritual participant (sadasya) in King Janamejaya’s future great sacrifice, the Aśvamedha.