Shloka 22
Janamejaya’s Request for Expansion; Vaiśampāyana’s Authorization and Phalāśruti of the Mahābhārata
Jaya
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन ब्रह्मन् पारिक्षितस्तु सः । नातिदह्ृष्टमना श्षेदमास्तीकं वाक्यमब्रवीत्,ब्रह्म! आस्तीकके ऐसा कहनेपर वे परीक्षित्-कुमार जनमेजय खिन्नचित्त होकर बोले --
evam uktas tadā tena brahman pārīkṣitas tu saḥ | nātidahṛṣṭamanāś cedam āstīkaṁ vākyam abravīt | brahman! āstīkake evaṁ kahanepara ve parīkṣit-kumāra janamejaya khinnacitta hokara bole —
โอ พราหมณ์! เมื่อเขากล่าวเช่นนั้นแล้ว พระเจ้าชนเมชยะผู้สืบสายปริกษิตมิได้ทรงยินดีนัก; ด้วยพระทัยหม่นหมองจึงตรัสถ้อยคำนี้แก่อาสตีกะ
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical hesitation in leadership: even a powerful king, committed to a ritual agenda, can be inwardly unsettled when confronted by a righteous appeal. It frames the coming exchange as a test of restraint, compassion, and dharma in the exercise of royal power.
Āstīka has spoken to Janamejaya. Janamejaya—identified as a descendant of Parīkṣit—responds with a mind not pleased and somewhat dejected, and begins to speak to Āstīka, setting up the next part of their dialogue.