Shloka 8
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
तस्य तद् वचन श्रुत्वा नकुलस्य विशाम्पते । विस्मयं परमं जम्मु: सर्वे ते ब्राह्मणर्षभा:,प्रजानाथ! नेवलेकी वह बात सुनकर समस्त श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंको बड़ा आश्चर्य हुआ
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca: tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā Nakulasya viśāṃpate, vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmuḥ sarve te brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ.
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: O lord of the people, when they heard that statement of Nakula, all those foremost Brahmins were seized with the greatest astonishment. The moment underscores how a righteous person’s unexpected words can unsettle even the learned, prompting reflection on what dharma requires in that situation.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral weight of speech: when a person known for propriety speaks in an unexpected way, even the learned are compelled to pause and reassess what dharma demands. It suggests that ethical discernment is often triggered by surprise—when customary expectations are challenged.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Nakula makes a statement, and upon hearing it, the assembled eminent Brahmins react with intense astonishment. The scene marks a turning point in the discussion, indicating that Nakula’s words carried unusual force or implications.