Shloka 11
सर्पसत्रे ऋत्विजः सदस्याश्च — Officiants and Assembly at Janamejaya’s Serpent-Sacrifice
स्वैरेष्वपि न तेनाहं स्मरामि वितथं वच: । उक्तपूर्व कुतो राजन् साम्पराये स वक्ष्यति,राजन! उन्होंने पहले कभी विनोदमें भी झूठी बात कही हो, यह मुझे स्मरण नहीं है। फिर इस संकटके समय तो वे झूठ बोलेंगे ही क्यों? भैया! मेरे पति तपस्याके धनी हैं। उन्होंने जाते समय मुझसे यह कहा--“नागकन्ये! तुम अपनी कार्य-सिद्धिके सम्बन्धमें कोई चिन्ता न करना। तुम्हारे गर्भसे अग्नि और सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी पुत्र उत्पन्न होगा।” इतना कहकर वे तपोवनमें चले गये। अतः भैया! तुम्हारे मनमें जो महान् दुःख है, वह दूर हो जाना चाहिये
svair eṣv api na tenāhaṃ smarāmi vitathaṃ vacaḥ | uktapūrvaḥ kuto rājan sāmparāye sa vakṣyati ||
Even in moments of ease and play, I do not recall him ever speaking a false word. How then, O King, would one who has spoken truth before resort to falsehood at a time of crisis? The statement underscores the ethical weight of a person’s established truthfulness: character proven in ordinary moments becomes the ground of trust in danger.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthfulness is presented as a stable ethical trait: if someone is not known to lie even in casual situations, it is unreasonable to suspect deceit in a grave crisis. Past conduct becomes the basis for moral credibility.
The speaker addresses a king and argues from memory and reputation: the person in question has not spoken falsehood before, so he would not suddenly lie when circumstances become dangerous.