Shloka 100
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
तमाह पुरुषो भूयो भक्षयस्वोत्तड़क मा विचारयोपाध्यायेनापि ते भक्षितं पूर्वमिति,तब वह पुरुष फिर उनसे बोला--“उत्तंक! खा लो, विचार न करो। तुम्हारे उपाध्यायने भी पहले इसे खाया था”
tam āha puruṣo bhūyo bhakṣayasvottanka mā vicāraya upādhyāyenāpi te bhakṣitaṃ pūrvam iti
Then the man spoke to him again: “Uttaṅka, eat it—do not deliberate. Even your teacher has eaten this before.” The remark is meant to remove Uttaṅka’s hesitation by appealing to precedent and obedience, pressing him to act without overthinking what appears questionable.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how appeals to authority and precedent can be used to override moral hesitation; it invites reflection on when obedience to a teacher’s example is appropriate and when discernment (viveka) is still required.
A man urges Uttaṅka to eat something he is reluctant to consume, insisting he should not think too much because even Uttaṅka’s own teacher had eaten it earlier—framing the act as acceptable by precedent.