Shloka 24
Takṣaka’s agency, Parīkṣit’s rites, and Janamejaya’s enthronement (वैयासिक परम्परा-प्रसङ्गः)
न हि तं राजशार्दूलस्तथा धर्मपरायणम् | जानाति भरतमश्रेष्ठस्तत एनमधर्षयत्,भरतवंशशिरोमणि नृपश्रेष्ठ परीक्षित् उन धर्मपरायण मुनिको यथार्थरूपमें नहीं जानते थे; इसीलिये उन्होंने महर्षिका अपमान किया
na hi taṃ rājaśārdūlas tathā dharmaparāyaṇam | jānāti bharataśreṣṭhas tata enam adharṣayat |
భరతశ్రేష్ఠుడైన రాజశార్దూలుడు పరీక్షితుడు ఆ ధర్మపరాయణ మునిని యథార్థంగా గుర్తించలేదు; అందువల్లనే అతనిని అవమానించాడు.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethically, the verse warns that lack of discernment (not recognizing true dharma in another) can cause one to commit disrespect toward the righteous; proper conduct requires humility and careful recognition of virtue, especially toward sages.
Śaunaka explains that a great Bharata king, not understanding a certain person (implicitly a sage) to be genuinely devoted to dharma, consequently affronted him—an act framed as arising from ignorance of the sage’s true character.