Shloka 30
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
एतद् दृष्ट श्रुतं चापि यथावन्नपसत्तम । अस्माभिननिखिलं सर्व कथितं तेडतिदारुणम्,नृपश्रेष्ठ! यद्यपि यह प्रसंग बड़ा ही निछ्ठर और दुःखदायक है, तथापि तुम्हारे पूछनेसे हमने सब बातें तुमसे कही हैं। यह सब कुछ हमने अपनी आँखों देखा और कानोंसे भी ठीक-ठीक सुना है
etad dṛṣṭaṃ śrutaṃ cāpi yathāvan napasattama | asmābhir nikhilaṃ sarvaṃ kathitaṃ te 'tidāruṇam ||
Wahai yang terbaik antara kaum Nāpā, kami telah menyampaikan kepada tuanku segala-galanya dengan lengkap, tepat sebagaimana adanya—apa yang kami lihat dengan mata sendiri dan apa yang kami dengar. Walaupun kisah ini amat keras lagi memilukan, kerana tuanku bertanya, kami menuturkannya tanpa meninggalkan sesuatu pun.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes truthful, complete reporting: one should speak accurately—grounded in direct observation and reliable hearing—even when the truth is painful, especially when questioned by a responsible authority.
Takṣaka addresses a respected listener and concludes (or underscores) his report, stating that he has narrated the entire matter exactly as witnessed and heard, acknowledging that the content is extremely distressing but was disclosed because it was asked.