Shloka 303
Pāṇḍu’s Marriages, Conquests, and Triumphal Return (पाण्डोर्विवाह-विजय-प्रत्यागमनम्)
सत्यवत्यथ वीक्ष्यैनमुवाचेदमनन्तरम् । विधि और मन्त्रोच्चारणपूर्वक की हुई उस पूजासे व्यासजी बहुत प्रसन्न हुए। जब वे आसनपर बैठ गये
satyavaty atha vīkṣyainam uvācedam anantaram | vidhimantroccāraṇapūrvakakṛtayā pūjayā vyāsajī bahu prasannaḥ | yadā sa āsane niṣaṇṇaḥs tadā mātā satyavatī tasya kuśalakṣemaṃ papraccha, taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā evam uvāca —
ततः सत्यवती तमवेक्ष्य तदनन्तरमेवेदमुवाच। विधिवन्मन्त्रोच्चारणपूर्वकं कृतया पूजया व्यासो महर्षिः परमं प्रीतिमवाप। स आसने उपविष्टे सति माता सत्यवती तस्य कुशलक्षेमं पप्रच्छ, तं चाभिवीक्ष्यैवं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharmic conduct through proper hospitality and ritual reverence: worship performed according to vidhi and mantra pleases the revered guest, and ethical speech begins with concern for another’s kuśala-kṣema (welfare and safety).
After Vyāsa is honored with a riteful, mantra-accompanied pūjā and takes his seat, Satyavatī—his mother—asks about his well-being and then begins to speak to him, setting up the ensuing request or counsel.