Shloka 7
Nāga-āyatana-darśana-pratīkṣā — The Brāhmaṇa’s Request and Waiting on the Gomatī
सौतिरुवाच तस्मिन् यज्ञे वर्तमाने राज्ञ: पारिक्षितस्य वै
sautir uvāca tasmin yajñe vartamāne rājñaḥ pārīkṣitasya vai, paripapraccha rājendraḥ pitāmaha-pitāmaham |
सौतिरुवाच—तस्मिन् यज्ञे वर्तमाने राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य वै। परिपप्रच्छ राजेन्द्रः पितामहपितामहम्॥
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic learning through disciplined inquiry: even a powerful king, amid ritual action, seeks guidance from a venerable authority (Vyāsa). It models humility, respect for lineage and tradition, and the ethical priority of seeking right understanding before acting.
During Janamejaya’s ongoing sacrifice, a pause occurs between rites. The king uses this interval to question Vyāsa—his remote ancestor and the revered compiler-sage—setting up the next portion of instruction or narration.