Shloka 18
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
इति पृष्टो द्विजैस्तै: स प्रहसन् नकुलो<ब्रवीत् । नैषा मृषा मया वाणी प्रोक्ता दर्पेण वा द्विजा:
iti pṛṣṭo dvijais taiḥ sa prahasan nakulo 'bravīt | naiṣā mṛṣā mayā vāṇī proktā darpeṇa vā dvijāḥ ||
Khi các Bà-la-môn hỏi như vậy, Nakula (con cầy mangut) mỉm cười đáp: “Hỡi các Bà-la-môn, lời ta nói không phải dối trá, cũng chẳng thốt ra vì kiêu mạn.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes integrity in speech: one should speak truthfully and without arrogance. Ethical authority is grounded not merely in status or ritual, but in sincerity, truth, and humility.
After being questioned by brahmins, the speaking mongoose (Nakula) responds with a smile, insisting that his earlier statement was neither a lie nor motivated by pride—setting up a moral clarification within the broader discussion of sacrifice and merit.