Shloka 33
Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)
ततस्ते याजकाः क्रुद्धास्तमूचुर्नूपसत्तमम् । तव कमण्यजसंर वै वर्तन्ते पार्थिवोत्तम,इतना कहकर राजा चुप हो गये। परंतप जनमेजय! जब वे ऋत्विज राजाका यज्ञ करानेके लिये उद्यत न हो सके, तब वे रुष्ट होकर उन नृपश्रेष्ठसे बोले--“भूपालशिरोमणे! आपके यज्ञकर्म तो निरन्तर चलते रहते हैं
tatas te yājakāḥ kruddhās tam ūcur nṛpasattamam | tava karmaṇy ajasaṃr vai vartante pārthivottama ||
Then those officiating priests, angered, addressed that best of kings: “O foremost among rulers, your sacrificial rites continue without interruption.” In the narrative context, the priests’ frustration signals a breakdown of cooperation between king and ritual specialists—an ethical tension where royal zeal for continual sacrifice meets the practical and moral limits of those tasked with conducting it.
वैशम्पायन उवाच