The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 13.10.44

13.10.44

purohita uvāca |
puṇyāhavācane nityaṃ dharmakṛtyeṣu cāsakṛt |
śāntihomeṣu ca sadā kiṃ tvaṃ hasasi vīkṣya mām || 44 ||

"The priest said, 'Every day, on occasions of obtaining my benedictions, when, again, I am engaged in the performance of religious rites on thy behalf, on occasions also of the Homa and other rites of propitiation, why is it that thou laughest upon beholding me? Seeing thee laugh at me on all occasions, my mind shrinks with shame. I have caused thee to swear, O king, that thou wouldst answer me truly. It does not behove thee to say what is untrue. There must be some grave reason for thy behaviour. Thy laughter cannot be causeless. Great is my curiosity to know the reason. Do thou speak truly unto me.'