Shloka 4
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
सख्यु: सकाशात् पितरं पित्रा ते धर्षितं पुरा । मृतं सर्प समासक्तं स्थाणुभूतस्य तस्य तम्
sakhyuḥ sakāśāt pitaraṃ pitrā te dharṣitaṃ purā | mṛtaṃ sarpa-samāsaktaṃ sthāṇu-bhūtasya tasya tam ||
ジャナメージャヤは言った。「シュリンギー（Śṛṅgī）は学友の口から、昔、汝の父が彼の父を辱めたと聞いた。仙人が柱のごとく不動に坐し—沈黙し、没入していた—その肩に汝の父が死蛇を置き、しかも仙人は何ら罪なきまま、なおその蛇を肩に負っていると知ったのである。」
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Disrespect toward a blameless ascetic—especially one practicing restraint and silence—constitutes adharma and can trigger grave consequences; power must be governed by self-control and reverence for spiritual discipline.
Janamejaya recounts how Śṛṅgī learned from a fellow student that King Parīkṣit had insulted Śṛṅgī’s father by placing a dead snake on the sage’s shoulder while the sage sat motionless and silent, despite being innocent of any wrongdoing.