Shloka 46
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
उवाच च महीपालो दुःखशोकसमन्वित: । दुर्धरं वाष्पमुत्सृज्य स्पृष्टवा चापो यथाविधि,राजाने दो घड़ीतक ध्यान करके मन-ही-मन कुछ निश्चय किया, फिर दुःख-शोक और अमर्षमें डूबे हुए नरेश न थमनेवाले आँसुओंकी अविच्छिन्न धारा बहाते हुए विधिपूर्वक जलका स्पर्श करके सम्पूर्ण मन्त्रियोंसे इस प्रकार बोले--
uvāca ca mahīpālo duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ | durdharaṃ vāṣpam utsṛjya spṛṣṭvā cāpo yathāvidhi rājānaṃś ca mantribhiḥ saha tathābravīt ||
तेव्हा दुःख-शोकाने भरलेला महीपाल आवरता न येणारे अश्रू ढाळीत, विधिपूर्वक जलस्पर्श करून बोलू लागला.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in intense grief, a ruler is expected to act within dharma: he steadies his mind, performs the proper rite (touching water as prescribed), and then speaks to his ministers—showing that emotion should be disciplined by ethical and ritual order before public decision.
A king, overcome with sorrow, weeps uncontrollably. After composing himself enough to perform a formal purification/ritual gesture by touching water, he turns to his ministers and begins to state his decision or intention.