Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 114
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
ततो मयोक्तं तद् वाक््यं प्रहस्य ब्राह्मणर्षभा:
tato mayoktaṁ tad vākyaṁ prahasya brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ
ਤਦ, ਹੇ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ-ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠੋ! ਮੇਰੇ ਆਖੇ ਹੋਏ ਬਚਨ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਹੱਸ ਪਏ ਅਤੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਦੇਣ ਲੱਗੇ—ਗੰਭੀਰਤਾ ਨਾਲ ਮੰਨਣ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ, ਹਾਸੇ-ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਅਣਗੌਲਿਆ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how speech may be received not only by its content but by the listeners’ attitude; laughter here suggests dismissal, reminding that ethical communication involves both speaking responsibly and responding with due seriousness and respect.
The speaker recounts that after he spoke a particular statement, the Brahmins present laughed and reacted to his words, indicating that his utterance was not taken in a grave or straightforward manner.