Shloka 14
Aṣṭāvakra–Bandi Vāda at Janaka’s Assembly
Numerical Cosmology and Restitution
द्रष्टास्यद्य वदतो<स्मान् द्वारपाल मनीषिशभि: । सह वादे विवृद्धे तु बन्दिनं चापि निर्जितम्,द्वारपाल! आज तुम हमें विद्वानोंके साथ शास्त्रार्थ करते देखोगे, साथ ही विवाद बढ़ जानेपर बंदीको परास्त हुआ पाओगे
draṣṭāsy adya vadato ’smān dvārapāla manīṣibhiḥ | saha vāde vivṛddhe tu bandinaṃ cāpi nirjitam ||
قال أَشْطافَكْرا: «يا حارس الباب، اليوم سترانا نخوض المناظرة مع الحكماء؛ وحين يشتدّ الجدل سترى بَنْدي مهزومًا أيضًا.»
अष्टावक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Confidence grounded in learning and truth is presented as legitimate strength: Aṣṭāvakra asserts that genuine wisdom can withstand public scrutiny and prevail over mere reputation in debate.
At the entrance to the royal assembly, Aṣṭāvakra addresses the gatekeeper, predicting that he will witness a formal śāstric debate with learned scholars and, as the contest intensifies, the defeat of the famed debater Bandi.