Shloka 46
Āstīka-stuti at Janamejaya’s Sacrifice (आस्तीकस्तुतिः / यज्ञप्रशंसा)
उवाच च महीपालो दुःखशोकसमन्वित: । दुर्धरं वाष्पमुत्सृज्य स्पृष्टवा चापो यथाविधि
uvāca ca mahīpālo duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ | durdharaṃ vāṣpam utsṛjya spṛṣṭvā cāpo yathāvidhi rājānaṃś ca mantribhiḥ saha tathābravīt ||
அப்போது துயரும் சோகமும் நிறைந்த அரசன் அடங்காத கண்ணீரைச் சிந்தி, விதிப்படி நீரைத் தொட்டு, பேசத் தொடங்கினான்.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in intense grief, a ruler is expected to act within dharma: he steadies his mind, performs the proper rite (touching water as prescribed), and then speaks to his ministers—showing that emotion should be disciplined by ethical and ritual order before public decision.
A king, overcome with sorrow, weeps uncontrollably. After composing himself enough to perform a formal purification/ritual gesture by touching water, he turns to his ministers and begins to state his decision or intention.