Shloka 3
Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)
आसीद् राजा महावीर्य: परिक्षिज्जनमेजय: । अबुद्धिपूर्वामागच्छद् ब्रह्महत्यां महीपति:,पूर्वकालमें परिक्षित॒के- पुत्र राजा जनमेजय बड़े पराक्रमी थे; परन्तु उन्हें बिना जाने ही ब्रह्महत्याका पाप लग गया था
āsīd rājā mahāvīryaḥ parikṣij-janamejayaḥ | abuddhi-pūrvam āgacchad brahmahatyāṁ mahīpatiḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Autrefois, il y eut un roi d’une grande vaillance : Janamejaya, descendant de Parikṣit. Pourtant, sans l’avoir voulu et sans en mesurer pleinement la portée, ce seigneur de la terre en vint à encourir le péché de brahmahatyā (la faute terrible d’avoir tué un brāhmaṇa).»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful ruler can become bound by grave moral fault when discernment fails; dharma evaluates not only power and status but also awareness, restraint, and the need for expiation when harm occurs.
Bhīṣma introduces an earlier episode about King Janamejaya, noting that he inadvertently incurred the guilt of brahmahatyā, setting up a discussion on wrongdoing, its causes, and the appropriate ethical response.