Shloka 31

Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

श्र॒ुत्वा चैनं नरश्रेष्ठ पार्थिवस्थ पराभवम्‌ | अस्य चर्षेरुतंकस्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्‌

Transliteration

śrutvā cainaṃ naraśreṣṭha pārthivastha-parābhavam | asya cārṣer utaṅkasya vidhatsva yad anantaram, mahārāja ||

Translation

ମହାରାଜ, ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ପୃଥିବୀରେ ଥିବାବେଳେ ତୁମ ପିତା ରାଜା ପରୀକ୍ଷିତଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ହୋଇଥିବା ଏହି ଅପମାନ ଓ ମହର୍ଷି ଉତଙ୍କଙ୍କୁ ଦିଆଯାଇଥିବା କ୍ଲେଶ—ସବୁ ତୁମେ ଶୁଣିଲ। ଏବେ ଆଗକୁ ଯାହା ଯୁକ୍ତ ଓ ଧର୍ମସମ୍ମତ, ତାହା ନିଶ୍ଚୟ କରି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କର।

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भावार्थ

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एनम्: him/this (person)
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नरश्रेष्ठ: O best of men
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पार्थिवस्थ: of the king (the one situated as king)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिवस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पराभवम्: insult/defeat
• पराभवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराभव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अस्य: of him/of this
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ऋषेः: of the sage
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• उतंकस्य: of Utaṅka
• Type: Noun
• Root: उतंक
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• विधत्स्व: do/ordain/arrange
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + वि
• Form: लोट् (imperative), Second, Singular, परस्मैपद

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनन्तरम्: next/thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर
• Form: adverbial accusative

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

तक्षक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Takṣaka
• Mahārāja (the addressed king, i.e., Janamejaya in context)
• Pārthiva (the king—Parīkṣit in context)
• Utaṅka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.