Shloka 50
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
तथा प्रतिषिद्धो भैक्ष्यं नाश्नाति न चान्यच्चरति पयो न पिबति फेन॑ नोपयुद्धक्ते । स कदाचिदरणप्ये क्षुधार्तोंडर्कपत्राण्यभक्षयत्,इस प्रकार मना करनेपर उपमन्यु न तो भिक्षाका अन्न खाता, न दुबारा भिक्षा लाता, न गौओंका दूध पीता और न बछड़ोंके फेनको ही उपयोगमें लाता था (अब वह भूखा रहने लगा)। एक दिन वनमें भूखसे पीड़ित होकर उसने आकके पत्ते चबा लिये
tathā pratiṣiddho bhaikṣyaṃ nāśnāti na cānyac carati payo na pibati phenaṃ nopayujyate | sa kadācid araṇye kṣudhārto ’rkapattrāṇy abhakṣayat |
Thus, after being forbidden, he did not eat alms-food, nor did he go again to beg; he did not drink cow’s milk, and he did not make use of the calves’ froth. Living in hunger, once in the forest, tormented by starvation, he chewed and ate the leaves of the arka plant.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights disciplined obedience and restraint, but also implies that austerity must be guided by discernment; when basic needs are ignored without wise guidance, one may resort to harmful alternatives.
Upamanyu, having been prohibited, refuses alms-food, does not beg again, and avoids milk and even calves’ froth; weakened by hunger, he eventually eats arka leaves in the forest to stave off starvation.