Janamejaya’s Request for Expansion; Vaiśampāyana’s Authorization and Phalāśruti of the Mahābhārata
Jaya
यथा सूतो लोहिताक्षो महात्मा पौराणिको वेदितवान् पुरस्तात् | स राजान प्राह पृष्टस्तदानीं यथाहुर्विप्रास्तद्वदेतन्देव,लाल नेत्रोंवाले पुराणवेत्ता महात्मा सूतजीने पहले ही यह बात सूचित कर दी थी। तब राजाने सूतजीसे इसके विषयमें पूछा। पूछनेपर उन्होंने राजासे कहा--“नरदेव! ब्राह्मणलोग जैसी बात कह रहे हैं, वह ठीक वैसी ही है
yathā sūto lohitākṣo mahātmā paurāṇiko veditavān purastāt | sa rājan prāha pṛṣṭas tadānīṃ yathāhur viprās tadvad etan nara-deva ||
ଯେପରି ପୁରାଣଜ୍ଞ ମହାତ୍ମା ଲୋହିତାକ୍ଷ ସୂତ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଏହି କଥା କହିଥିଲେ, ସେପରି ସେହି ସମୟରେ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ ହେଲାପରେ ସେ ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ—“ନରଦେବ! ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ଯେପରି କହୁଛନ୍ତି, କଥା ଠିକ୍ ସେପରି ହିଁ।”
जनमेजय उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical and cultural principle that a king should rely on established sacred learning and the consensus of qualified Brahmins; truthful narration and learned testimony function as a guide for righteous decision-making.
Janamejaya questions the Sūta narrator (Lohitākṣa). In response, the Sūta tells the king that the account is exactly as the Brahmins have stated, reaffirming the reliability of the received tradition.