Shloka 31
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
श्र॒ुत्वा चैनं नरश्रेष्ठ पार्थिवस्थ पराभवम् | अस्य चर्षेरुतंकस्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्
śrutvā cainaṃ naraśreṣṭha pārthivastha-parābhavam | asya cārṣer utaṅkasya vidhatsva yad anantaram, mahārāja ||
Wahai yang terbaik antara manusia, wahai Maharaja—setelah mendengar penghinaan yang menimpa raja (ayahanda tuanku) ketika baginda masih di dunia, dan juga apa yang telah dilakukan terhadap resi Utaṅka, maka kini putuskanlah dan laksanakanlah apa yang patut dilakukan seterusnya. Perkara ini telah dipersembahkan; tanggungjawab untuk membalas menurut dharma kini terletak pada tuanku.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores royal accountability: once wrongdoing and humiliation are known, a king must choose a response that upholds dharma—measured, just, and mindful of consequences—rather than acting blindly from anger.
Takṣaka addresses the king (contextually Janamejaya), pointing out that the insult to the earthly king (Parīkṣit) and the harassment of the sage Utaṅka have been heard; he urges the king to determine and execute the next course of action, setting the stage for later retaliation.