Shloka 8
अर्जुनस्य इन्द्रकीलगमनम् तथा शक्रसाक्षात्कारः
Arjuna’s journey to Indrakīla and encounter with Indra
न हास्य निन्दितं जिष्णो: सुसूक्ष्ममपि लक्षये । चरितं तस्य शूरस्य तन्मे सर्व प्रकीर्तय,शूरवीर अर्जुनका अत्यन्त सूक्ष्म चरित्र भी ऐसा नहीं दिखायी देता है, जिसमें थोड़ी-सी भी निन्दाके लिये स्थान हो; अत: वह सब मुझसे कहिये
na hāsya ninditaṃ jiṣṇoḥ susūkṣmam api lakṣaye | caritaṃ tasya śūrasya tan me sarvaṃ prakīrtaya ||
Janamejaya berkata: “Wahai Jiṣṇu (Arjuna), aku tidak melihat padanya walau setitik pun—betapa halus sekalipun—sesuatu yang layak dicela. Maka ceritakan kepadaku dengan lengkap perihal tingkah laku dan perjalanan hidup pahlawan itu.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical ideal: a truly exemplary person’s life should withstand scrutiny even at the subtlest level. Janamejaya’s request implies that virtue is measured not only by great feats but also by the absence of even minute grounds for blame.
Within the frame dialogue, King Janamejaya expresses admiration for Arjuna (called Jiṣṇu) and asks the narrator to recount Arjuna’s full life and deeds, since he finds no blemish in the hero’s character.