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Shloka 114

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

ततो मयोक्तं तद्‌ वाक्‍्यं प्रहस्य ब्राह्मणर्षभा:

tato mayoktaṁ tad vākyaṁ prahasya brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ

Then, O best of Brahmins, they laughed and responded to the words that I had spoken—treating my statement with amused dismissal rather than solemn acceptance.

ततःthen/thereupon
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
FormAvyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/then')
मयाby me
मया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormPronoun; gender: —; case: Instrumental; number: Singular
उक्तम्said/uttered
उक्तम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPast passive participle (क्त); gender: Neuter; case: Nominative; number: Singular
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formgender: Neuter; case: Nominative; number: Singular
वाक्यम्speech/statement
वाक्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवाक्य
Formgender: Neuter; case: Nominative; number: Singular
प्रहस्यhaving laughed
प्रहस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootप्रहस्
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्); indeclinable
ब्राह्मणर्षभाःO best of Brahmins (vocative sense in address)
ब्राह्मणर्षभाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मणर्षभ
Formgender: Masculine; case: Nominative; number: Plural

श्षशुर उवाच

B
brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ (foremost Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how speech may be received not only by its content but by the listeners’ attitude; laughter here suggests dismissal, reminding that ethical communication involves both speaking responsibly and responding with due seriousness and respect.

The speaker recounts that after he spoke a particular statement, the Brahmins present laughed and reacted to his words, indicating that his utterance was not taken in a grave or straightforward manner.