Shloka 3
तदेतददभुतं ब्रह्मज्छा्डकाणामनामयम् | कीर्तयस्वाग्निसम्मर्दे कथं ते न विनाशिता:
tad etad adbhutaṁ brahma śāṇḍakānām anāmayam | kīrtayasva agni-sammarde kathaṁ te na vināśitāḥ ||
Janamejaya berkata: “Wahai Brahmana, sungguh menghairankan bahawa para Śāṇḍaka tetap tidak cedera. Mohon ceritakan: bagaimana, di tengah gelora dahsyat api besar itu, mereka tidak binasa?”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights awe at unexpected preservation in calamity and frames an ethical inquiry: when destruction seems inevitable, one should seek the underlying causes—merit, protection, or rightful conduct—through careful narration and reflection.
King Janamejaya addresses a Brahman narrator and asks him to explain how the Śāṇḍakas managed to remain safe and unharmed during a terrifying conflagration, requesting a detailed account of their escape from destruction.