Shloka 16
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 98 — Paraśurāma’s kṣatriya suppression; Dīrghatamas, Bali, Sudēṣṇā, and the birth of Aṅga
वैशम्पायन उवाच तथेत्युक्ता तु सा राजंस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! राजा प्रतीपने “तथास्तु” कहकर उसकी शर्त स्वीकार कर ली। तत्पश्चात् वह वहीं अन्तर्धान हो गयी
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: tathety uktā tu sā rājan tatraivāntaradhīyata.
Sabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Hari, nang masagot siya ng ‘Gayon nga,’ naglaho siya roon din at noon din. Ipinakikita ng pangyayaring ito ang bigat na etikal ng salita ng isang pinuno: kapag tinanggap na ang isang kundisyon, ang katapatan sa pagsang-ayon ay nagiging tungkuling nagbubuklod, kahit ang kabilang panig ay mawala sa paningin.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s assent (“tathāstu/ tatheti”) is not casual speech; it creates an ethical obligation. The verse highlights the dharmic seriousness of accepting conditions and the duty to honor one’s word even when circumstances change.
After the king replies “So be it,” accepting her stated condition, the woman immediately vanishes on the spot, signaling that the agreement now stands and its consequences will unfold later.