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.
श्षशुर उवाच
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.