Shloka 21
Śāṃtanu’s Ideal Rule; Devavrata’s Return; The Satyavatī Marriage Condition and Bhīṣma’s Vow (आदि पर्व, अध्याय ९४)
पृच्छामि त्वां नृपते ब्रूहि सत्यं कुतश्च कश्नचासि सुतश्न॒ कस्य । कृतं॑ त्वया यद्धि न तस्य कर्ता लोके त्वदन्य: क्षत्रियो ब्राह्मणों वा,महाराज! मैं आपसे एक बात पूछता हूँ। आप उसे सच-सच बताइये। आप कहाँसे आये हैं, कौन हैं और किसके पुत्र हैं? आपने जो कुछ किया है, उसे करनेवाला आपके सिवा दूसरा कोई क्षत्रिय अथवा ब्राह्मण इस संसारमें नहीं है
pṛcchāmi tvāṃ nṛpate brūhi satyaṃ kutaś ca kasya cāsi sutaś ca kasya | kṛtaṃ tvayā yad dhi na tasya kartā loke tvadanyaḥ kṣatriyo brāhmaṇo vā ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “Itatanong ko sa iyo, O hari—sabihin mo ang katotohanan. Saan ka nagmula, sino ka, at kaninong anak ka? Sapagkat ang ginawa mo—walang ibang makagagawa niyon sa daigdig na ito kundi ikaw, maging sa hanay ng mga kṣatriya o kahit sa mga brāhmaṇa.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds satya (truthfulness) and accountability: a ruler is urged to disclose origin and lineage honestly, and extraordinary actions invite ethical scrutiny and responsibility.
The narrator frames a direct interrogation of a king: he is asked to state truthfully where he came from, who he is, and whose son he is, because his remarkable deed is portrayed as unmatched by anyone else in society, whether warrior or brahmin.