Shloka 160
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
अथोत्तड़क उपाध्यायमभ्यवादयत् । तमुपाध्याय: प्रत्युवाच वत्सोत्तड़क स्वागतं ते किं चिरं कृतमिति,तदनन्तर उत्तंकने उपाध्यायके चरणोंमें प्रणाम किया। उपाध्यायने उससे कहा--“वत्स उत्तंक! तुम्हारा स्वागत है। लौटनेमें देर क्यों लगायी?”
athottadaka upādhyāyam abhyavādayat | tam upādhyāyaḥ pratyuvāca: vatsa uttadaka svāgataṃ te kiṃ ciraṃ kṛtam iti | tad-anantaraṃ uttaṅkena upādhyāyake caraṇayoḥ praṇāmaḥ kṛtaḥ | upādhyāyena tasmai uktaṃ—“vatsa uttaṅka! tava svāgataṃ. lautanemeṃ dera kyoṃ lagāyī?”
ثم إن أوتّانكا حيّا أستاذه بإجلال. فأجابه المعلّم: «يا بُنيّ أوتّانكا، مرحبًا بك. لِمَ طال غيابك؟» وبعد ذلك انحنى أوتّانكا عند قدمي أستاذه. فقال له المعلّم: «يا أوتّانكا العزيز، مرحبًا بك—لِمَ أخّرتَ رجوعك؟»
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharmic conduct in the guru–disciple setting: a student should return promptly after completing duties, greet the teacher respectfully, and maintain humility; the teacher, in turn, receives the student with welcome while also questioning delays as part of moral guidance.
Uttadaka (and/or Uttanka in the surrounding narration) approaches the teacher, offers respectful salutations and bows at the teacher’s feet. The teacher responds warmly, welcoming him and asking why he took so long to return.