Shloka 7
Āstīka’s Commission and Approach to Janamejaya’s Sarpa-satra (आस्तीक-प्रेषणं यज्ञप्रवेशोपक्रमश्च)
धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च प्रजापाल: पिता तव | आसीदिह यथावृत्त: स महात्मा शृणुष्व तत्,महाराज! आपके पिता बड़े धर्मात्मा, महात्मा और प्रजापालक थे। वे महामना नरेश इस जगत्में जैसे आचार-व्यवहारका पालन करते थे, वह सुनो
janamejaya uvāca | dharmātmā ca mahātmā ca prajā-pālaḥ pitā tava | āsīd iha yathāvṛttaḥ sa mahātmā śṛṇuṣva tat ||
మహారాజా, నీ తండ్రి ధర్మాత్ముడు, మహాత్ముడు, ప్రజాపాలకుడు. ఈ లోకంలో ఆ మహామనస్క రాజు ఎలా ప్రవర్తించేవాడో విను.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ideal of kingship rooted in dharma: a ruler should be noble in character (dharmātmā, mahātmā) and actively protect and sustain the people (prajā-pālaḥ). Ethical governance is presented as personal virtue expressed through public responsibility.
Janamejaya addresses a king and introduces an account of that king’s father, emphasizing his righteousness and role as a protector of subjects. The verse functions as a transition into a fuller narration of the father’s life and conduct.