Shloka 14
Śṛṅgī’s Curse on King Parikṣit
Parikṣit–Śṛṅgī–Takṣaka Causal Link
स नो बहुमतान् राजा बुद्धया बुद्धिमतां वर: । यज्ञार्थ प्रक्ष्यति व्यक्त नेति वक्ष्यामहे वयम्,“हम वहाँ बहुत विश्वस्त एवं सम्मानित होकर रहेंगे। अतः बुद्धिमानोंमें श्रेष्ठ राजा जनमेजय यज्ञके विषयमें हमारी सम्मति जाननेके लिये अवश्य पूछेंगे। उस समय हम स्पष्ट कह देंगे--'यज्ञ न करो”
sa no bahumatān rājā buddhyā buddhimatāṁ varaḥ | yajñārthaṁ prakṣyati vyakta neti vakṣyāmahe vayam ||
“Mananatili tayo roon na lubos na pinagkakatiwalaan at iginagalang. Kaya tiyak na tatanungin tayo ni Haring Janamejaya—pinakamatalino sa mga marurunong—upang malaman ang ating pasya tungkol sa paghahandog. At doon ay malinaw nating sasabihin: ‘Huwag mong isagawa ang paghahandog.’”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful king should seek and heed wise counsel; when a ritual is ethically compromised or driven by harmful intent, the righteous response is to speak clearly against it.
Śeṣa anticipates that King Janamejaya, trusting and honoring them, will ask their opinion about the proposed sacrifice; they resolve to answer unambiguously that it should not be performed.