Shloka 3
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
तथा तेषु च सर्वेषु तूष्णीम्भूतेषु राजसु । जामदग्न्य इदं वाक्यमब्रवीत् कुरुसंसदि,इस प्रकार उन सब राजाओंके मौन ही रह जानेपर जमदग्निनन्दन परशुरामने कौरवसभामें इस प्रकार कहा--
tathā teṣu ca sarveṣu tūṣṇīmbhūteṣu rājasu | jāmadagnya idaṃ vākyam abravīt kurusaṃsadi ||
When all those kings had fallen silent, Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma), in the assembly of the Kurus, spoke these words—setting the stage for a decisive intervention amid a tense moral and political impasse.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key ethical moment in courtly deliberation: when rulers fall silent—whether from uncertainty, fear, or political calculation—moral authority and decisive counsel may emerge from a figure of recognized stature, indicating that dharma often requires clear speech at moments of collective hesitation.
In the Kuru assembly, the gathered kings become silent. At that point Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma) begins to speak, marking a transition from stalled discussion to an authoritative pronouncement that will shape the ensuing exchange.