Shloka 37

Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)

Devanagari script

स उपाध्यायं प्रत्युवाच भो भैक्ष्यैण वृत्ति कल्पयामीति,उसने उपाध्यायसे कहा--'गुरुदेव! मैं भिक्षासे जीवन-निर्वाह करता हूँ”

Transliteration

sa upādhyāyaṃ pratyuvāca—bho bhaikṣyaiṇa vṛttiṃ kalpayāmīti.

Translation

সে আচার্যকে উত্তর দিল—“ভগবন্, আমি ভিক্ষা দ্বারা জীবিকা নির্বাহ করি।”

Word by Word

सःhe

उपाध्यायम्to the teacher (as object of addressing/speaking to)

प्रत्युवाचreplied / spoke in return

भोःO! (vocative particle)

भैक्ष्येणby alms / through begging

वृत्तिम्livelihood / means of living

कल्पयामिI arrange / I make / I manage

इतिthus (quotative)

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Rama

Upadhyaya (teacher)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical livelihood (vṛtti) grounded in restraint and propriety: a student chooses to live by alms (bhaikṣa) rather than seek comfort or questionable means, reflecting dharma and the discipline expected in brahmacarya.

What is happening in the narrative?

A character addresses his teacher respectfully and responds that he will sustain himself through alms-begging, indicating acceptance of an austere, regulated student life and deference to the teacher’s authority.