Shloka 16
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
यदत्र तथ्यं तद् ब्रूहि सत्यं सत्यं द्विजातिषु । यथाश्रुतं यथादृष्ट॑ पृष्टो ब्राह्मणकाम्पया
yad atra tathyaṃ tad brūhi satyaṃ satyaṃ dvijātiṣu | yathāśrutaṃ yathādṛṣṭaṃ pṛṣṭo brāhmaṇakāmyayā ||
毗舍摩波耶那说：“在这些二生者面前，说出此处确凿之事——如实，如实。依诸婆罗门之意问你时，你当照你所闻、照你所见而直言。”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes ethical speech: when a dispute arises—especially about a sacred rite—one should report only what is truly known, distinguishing direct perception (what was seen) and reliable report (what was heard), and speak truthfully before qualified elders (here, the dvijas).
In the context of the Aśvamedha proceedings, a figure is being questioned by Brahmins regarding grounds for criticizing or casting doubt on the sacrifice. Vaiśaṃpāyana frames the demand: state the facts exactly as witnessed or heard, and do so with strict truthfulness.