Shloka 24
Takṣaka’s agency, Parīkṣit’s rites, and Janamejaya’s enthronement (वैयासिक परम्परा-प्रसङ्गः)
न हि तं राजशार्दूलस्तथा धर्मपरायणम् | जानाति भरतमश्रेष्ठस्तत एनमधर्षयत्,भरतवंशशिरोमणि नृपश्रेष्ठ परीक्षित् उन धर्मपरायण मुनिको यथार्थरूपमें नहीं जानते थे; इसीलिये उन्होंने महर्षिका अपमान किया
na hi taṃ rājaśārdūlas tathā dharmaparāyaṇam | jānāti bharataśreṣṭhas tata enam adharṣayat |
For that bull among kings, the best of the Bharatas, did not truly recognize him as such a steadfast devotee of dharma; therefore he affronted him—acting in ignorance of the sage’s real nature. The verse underscores how failure to discern virtue in another can lead to ethical lapse and disrespect toward the righteous.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethically, the verse warns that lack of discernment (not recognizing true dharma in another) can cause one to commit disrespect toward the righteous; proper conduct requires humility and careful recognition of virtue, especially toward sages.
Śaunaka explains that a great Bharata king, not understanding a certain person (implicitly a sage) to be genuinely devoted to dharma, consequently affronted him—an act framed as arising from ignorance of the sage’s true character.