Shloka 17
श्रद्धेयवाक्य: प्राज्ञस्त्वं दिव्यं रूपं बिभर्षि च | समागततश्न विप्रैस्त्वं तद् भवान् वक्तुमहति,“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”
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca: śraddheyavākyaḥ prājñas tvaṃ divyaṃ rūpaṃ bibharṣi ca | samāgataś ca viprais tvaṃ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Your words appear worthy of trust; you seem wise and you bear a divine form. Since you have now come into the company of these brāhmaṇas, you ought to answer. Even after all that has been done, what have you seen or heard on account of which you cast blame upon this sacrifice? When questioned here by these brāhmaṇas according to their wish, speak the truth plainly.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Credibility and moral authority are tied to truthfulness: when one is regarded as wise and trustworthy, especially in the presence of brāhmaṇas and in matters of ritual dharma, one must answer honestly and give evidence for any criticism.
A figure whose speech seems reliable and whose appearance is described as divine is being pressed by brāhmaṇas to explain the basis of his objection to the ongoing sacrifice—specifically, what he has actually seen or heard that justifies censuring the rite.