SB 1.19.12
sukhopavistesv atha tesu bhuyah
krta-pranamah sva-cikirsitam yat
vijñapayam asa vivikta-ceta
upasthito ’gre ’bhigrhita-panih
Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada:
After all the rsis and others had seated themselves comfortably, the King, humbly standing before them with folded hands, told them of his decision to fast until death.
Purport by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada:
Although the King had already decided to fast until death on the bank of the Ganges, he humbly expressed his decision to elicit the opinions of the great authorities present there. Any important decision, however firmly fixed, should be confirmed by some authority. That makes the matter perfect. This means that the monarchs who ruled the earth in those days were not irresponsible dictators. They scrupulously followed the authoritative decisions of the saints and sages in terms of Vedic injunction. Maharaja Pariksit, as a perfect king, followed the principles by consulting the authorities, even up to the last days of his life.