Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 17
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
श्रद्धेयवाक्य: प्राज्ञस्त्वं दिव्यं रूपं बिभर्षि च | समागततश्न विप्रैस्त्वं तद् भवान् वक्तुमहति
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca: śraddheyavākyaḥ prājñas tvaṃ divyaṃ rūpaṃ bibharṣi ca | samāgataś ca viprais tvaṃ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
毗舍摩波耶那说：“你的言辞似可信赖；你显得睿智，又具天神之形。既已来到这些婆罗门的会中，你理当作答。纵然诸事皆已成就，你究竟见了什么、听了什么，竟因此责难此祭？当这些婆罗门依其所愿在此问你时，你当直陈其真。”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Credibility and moral authority are tied to truthfulness: when one is regarded as wise and trustworthy, especially in the presence of brāhmaṇas and in matters of ritual dharma, one must answer honestly and give evidence for any criticism.
A figure whose speech seems reliable and whose appearance is described as divine is being pressed by brāhmaṇas to explain the basis of his objection to the ongoing sacrifice—specifically, what he has actually seen or heard that justifies censuring the rite.