Shloka 39
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स तस्मादुपाध्याय: सर्वमेव भैक्ष्यमगृह्नात्ू | स तथेत्युक्त्वा पुनररक्षद् गा: । अहनि रक्षित्वा निशामुखे गुरुकुलमागम्य गुरोरग्रत: स्थित्वा नमश्नक्रे,उपाध्याय उपमन्युसे सारी भिक्षा ले लेते थे। उपमन्यु “तथास्तु” कहकर पुनः पूर्ववत् गौओंकी रक्षा करता रहा। वह दिनभर गौओंकी रक्षामें रहता और (संध्याके समय) पुनः गुरुके घरपर आकर गुरुके सामने खड़ा हो नमस्कार करता था
sa tasmād upādhyāyaḥ sarvam eva bhaikṣyam agṛhṇāt | sa tathety uktvā punar arakṣad gāḥ | ahani rakṣitvā niśāmukhe gurukulam āgamya guror agrataḥ sthitvā namaś cakre |
Therefore the teacher took for himself the entire alms that had been gathered. Upamanyu, saying “So be it,” returned again to his former routine and continued guarding the cows. After watching over them throughout the day, at the approach of evening he came back to the teacher’s household; standing before the guru, he offered his respectful salutation.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights brahmacarya discipline: the student accepts hardship without resentment, continues assigned duty (guarding the cows), and maintains reverence toward the guru. It frames obedience and self-restraint as ethical training, even when the test feels severe.
The teacher takes all the alms collected; Upamanyu agrees (“tathā”), returns to guarding the cows as before, and at evening comes back to the guru’s home, stands before him, and offers respectful salutations.