Shloka 16
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
यदत्र तथ्यं तद् ब्रूहि सत्यं सत्यं द्विजातिषु । यथाश्रुतं यथादृष्ट॑ पृष्टो ब्राह्मणकाम्पया
yad atra tathyaṃ tad brūhi satyaṃ satyaṃ dvijātiṣu | yathāśrutaṃ yathādṛṣṭaṃ pṛṣṭo brāhmaṇakāmyayā ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : «Dis ici ce qui est exact—en vérité, en vérité—devant ces deux-fois-nés. Dis, comme tu l’as entendu et comme tu l’as vu, lorsque tu es interrogé selon le souhait de ces brāhmanes.»
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes ethical speech: when a dispute arises—especially about a sacred rite—one should report only what is truly known, distinguishing direct perception (what was seen) and reliable report (what was heard), and speak truthfully before qualified elders (here, the dvijas).
In the context of the Aśvamedha proceedings, a figure is being questioned by Brahmins regarding grounds for criticizing or casting doubt on the sacrifice. Vaiśaṃpāyana frames the demand: state the facts exactly as witnessed or heard, and do so with strict truthfulness.