Shloka 16
यदत्र तथ्यं तद् ब्रूहि सत्यं सत्यं द्विजातिषु । यथाश्रुतं यथादृष्ट॑ पृष्टो ब्राह्मणकाम्पया,“यह सब होनेपर भी तुमने क्या देखा या सुना है, जिससे इस यज्ञपर आक्षेप करते हो? इन ब्राह्मणोंके निकट इनके इच्छानुसार पूछे जानेपर तुम सच-सच बताओ; क्योंकि तुम्हारी बातें विश्वासके योग्य जान पड़ती हैं। तुम स्वयं भी बुद्धिमान् दिखायी देते और दिव्यरूप धारण किये हुए हो। इस समय तुम्हारा ब्राह्मणोंक साथ समागम हुआ है, इसलिये तुम्हें हमारे प्रश्नका उत्तर अवश्य देना चाहिये”
yad atra tathyaṃ tad brūhi satyaṃ satyaṃ dvijātiṣu | yathāśrutaṃ yathādṛṣṭaṃ pṛṣṭo brāhmaṇakāmyayā ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Speak here what is factual—truthfully, truthfully—before these twice-born. Tell, just as you have heard and just as you have seen, when you are questioned in accordance with the Brahmins’ wish.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes ethical speech: when a dispute arises—especially about a sacred rite—one should report only what is truly known, distinguishing direct perception (what was seen) and reliable report (what was heard), and speak truthfully before qualified elders (here, the dvijas).
In the context of the Aśvamedha proceedings, a figure is being questioned by Brahmins regarding grounds for criticizing or casting doubt on the sacrifice. Vaiśaṃpāyana frames the demand: state the facts exactly as witnessed or heard, and do so with strict truthfulness.