Shloka 20
Āstīka’s Commission and Approach to Janamejaya’s Sarpa-satra (आस्तीक-प्रेषणं यज्ञप्रवेशोपक्रमश्च)
कथं निधनमापन्न: पिता मम तथाविध: । आचक्षध्वं यथावन्मे श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वत:,अब मैं यह जानना चाहता हूँ कि मेरे वैसे धर्मात्मा पिताकी मृत्यु किस प्रकार हुई? आपलोग मुझसे इसका यथावत् वर्णन करें। मैं इस विषयमें सब बातें ठीक-ठीक सुनना चाहता हूँ
kathaṁ nidhanaṁ āpannaḥ pitā mama tathāvidhaḥ | ācakṣadhvaṁ yathāvan me śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ ||
ମୋର ସେହି ଧର୍ମାତ୍ମା ପିତା କିପରି ମୃତ୍ୟୁକୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହେଲେ? ଆପଣମାନେ ମୋତେ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଭାବେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରନ୍ତୁ; ଏହି ବିଷୟର ସତ୍ୟକୁ ମୁଁ ତତ୍ତ୍ୱତଃ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଛି।
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic approach to knowledge: a ruler seeks an accurate, truthful account (yathāvat, tattvataḥ) before forming judgment. Ethical inquiry begins with careful listening and fidelity to facts.
In the frame-story of the Mahabharata, King Janamejaya questions the narrators about the circumstances of his father’s death, requesting a precise and complete narration.