Shloka 17
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
श्रद्धेयवाक्य: प्राज्ञस्त्वं दिव्यं रूपं बिभर्षि च | समागततश्न विप्रैस्त्वं तद् भवान् वक्तुमहति
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca: śraddheyavākyaḥ prājñas tvaṃ divyaṃ rūpaṃ bibharṣi ca | samāgataś ca viprais tvaṃ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : «Tes paroles paraissent dignes de foi ; tu sembles sage et tu portes une forme divine. Puisque tu es maintenant venu en la compagnie de ces brāhmanes, tu dois répondre. Même après tout ce qui a été accompli, qu’as-tu vu ou entendu pour blâmer ce sacrifice ? Quand ces brāhmanes t’interrogeront ici selon leur souhait, dis la vérité sans détour.»
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Credibility and moral authority are tied to truthfulness: when one is regarded as wise and trustworthy, especially in the presence of brāhmaṇas and in matters of ritual dharma, one must answer honestly and give evidence for any criticism.
A figure whose speech seems reliable and whose appearance is described as divine is being pressed by brāhmaṇas to explain the basis of his objection to the ongoing sacrifice—specifically, what he has actually seen or heard that justifies censuring the rite.