Shloka 21
उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानम् — Maṇi-Kuṇḍala Retrieval and Entry into Nāgaloka
Chapter 57
एवमेतद् वद ब्रह्म॒न् नानृतं वदसे5नघ । अभिशन्ञानं तु किंचित् त्वं समानयितुमरहसि
evam etad vada brahman nānṛtaṁ vadasy anagha | abhiśaṅjñānaṁ tu kiñcit tvaṁ samānayitum arhasi |
„So sei es, o Brāhmaṇa — sprich es genau so; du Makelloser, du redest keine Unwahrheit. Doch da du vom König selbst gekommen bist und seine Botschaft trägst, sollst du ein Erkennungszeichen — einen Beweis — vorweisen, der bestätigt, dass du ihn wahrhaft vertrittst.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a speaker is reputed truthful, dharma in royal and diplomatic matters requires verification: a messenger should provide a recognizable token to authenticate the message and prevent deception.
A listener addresses a brāhmaṇa messenger respectfully, affirming his truthfulness, but requests an identifying sign or proof that he has indeed come from the king with the king’s message.