Shloka 7
Āstīka’s Commission and Approach to Janamejaya’s Sarpa-satra (आस्तीक-प्रेषणं यज्ञप्रवेशोपक्रमश्च)
धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च प्रजापाल: पिता तव | आसीदिह यथावृत्त: स महात्मा शृणुष्व तत्,महाराज! आपके पिता बड़े धर्मात्मा, महात्मा और प्रजापालक थे। वे महामना नरेश इस जगत्में जैसे आचार-व्यवहारका पालन करते थे, वह सुनो
janamejaya uvāca | dharmātmā ca mahātmā ca prajā-pālaḥ pitā tava | āsīd iha yathāvṛttaḥ sa mahātmā śṛṇuṣva tat ||
Les ministres dirent : «Ô roi, ton père était juste d’âme, véritablement grand de cœur, et protecteur de ses sujets. Écoute maintenant comment cet homme noble se conduisit en ce monde, selon la juste observance.»
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ideal of kingship rooted in dharma: a ruler should be noble in character (dharmātmā, mahātmā) and actively protect and sustain the people (prajā-pālaḥ). Ethical governance is presented as personal virtue expressed through public responsibility.
Janamejaya addresses a king and introduces an account of that king’s father, emphasizing his righteousness and role as a protector of subjects. The verse functions as a transition into a fuller narration of the father’s life and conduct.