Shloka 8
वैशम्पायन उवाच परिहासेप्सया वाकक््यं विराटस्य निशम्य तत् | स्मयमानोडर्जुनो राजन्निदं वचनमत्रवीत्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! मानो परिहास करनेके लिये कहा गया हो, ऐसा विराटका वह वचन सुनकर अर्जुन मुसकराते हुए इस प्रकार बोले
vaiśampāyana uvāca | parihāsepsayā vākyam virāṭasya niśamya tat | smayamāno 'rjuno rājan idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O King (Janamejaya), hearing that statement of Virāṭa—spoken as though in jest—Arjuna, smiling, replied with these words.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint in communication: when confronted with words that seem teasing or belittling, a composed person responds without agitation—signaled here by Arjuna’s smile before speaking.
Vaiśampāyana narrates to King Janamejaya that Arjuna hears Virāṭa’s remark, interprets it as playful/jesting, and then begins his reply, smiling.