Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
तच्छुत्वा तस्य माता सरमा पुत्रदुःखार्ता तत् सत्रमुपागच्छद् यत्र स जनमेजय: सह भ्रातृभिदर्दीर्घ-सत्रमुपास्ते,यह सुनकर पुत्रके दुःखसे दुःखी हुई उसकी माता सरमा उस सत्रमें आयी, जहाँ जनमेजय अपने भाइयोंके साथ दीर्घकालीन सत्रका अनुष्ठान कर रहे थे
tac chrutvā tasya mātā saramā putra-duḥkhārtā tat satram upāgacchat yatra sa janamejayaḥ saha bhrātṛbhir dīrgha-satram upāste
Nang marinig iyon, ang ina niyang si Saramā, na wasak sa dalamhati dahil sa paghihirap ng anak, ay nagtungo sa satra—sa pook na kinaroroonan ni Janamejaya at ng kanyang mga kapatid, na nagsasagawa ng isang mahabang paghahandog ng soma.
राम उवाच
The verse highlights compassionate responsibility: a mother’s immediate response to her child’s suffering, and the ethical expectation that those in authority (here, a king engaged in ritual) should be accessible to grievances and ready to address wrongdoing.
After hearing of her son’s distress, Saramā goes to the site of Janamejaya’s prolonged sacrificial session, where the king is performing rites with his brothers—setting up her forthcoming appeal or complaint within the royal-ritual setting.