Shloka 83
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स कदाचिद् याज्यकार्येणाभिप्रस्थित उत्तड़कनामानं शिष्यं नियोजयामास,एक समयकी बात है--ब्रह्मवेत्ता आचार्य वेदके पास आकर “जनमेजय और पौष्य' नामवाले दो क्षत्रियोंने उनका वरण किया और उन्हें अपना उपाध्याय बना लिया। तदनन्तर एक दिन उपाध्याय वेदने यजमानके कार्यसे बाहर जानेके लिये उद्यत हो उत्तंक नामवाले शिष्यको अग्निहोत्र आदिके कार्यमें नियुक्त किया और कहा--“वत्स उत्तंक! मेरे घरमें मेरे बिना जिस किसी वस्तुकी कमी हो जाय, उसकी पूर्ति तुम कर देना, ऐसी मेरी इच्छा है।' उत्तंकको ऐसा आदेश देकर आचार्य वेद बाहर चले गये
Sa kadācid yājyakāryeṇābhiprasthitaḥ Uttaṅkanāmānaṃ śiṣyaṃ niyojayāmāsa.
Once, when the teacher was about to depart on sacrificial business for his patron, he appointed his disciple named Uttaṅka to take charge. He said: “My child Uttaṅka, in my house, if in my absence anything at all should fall into want, you must make it good; such is my wish.” Having given this command, the teacher Veda went forth.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores dharma in the guru–śiṣya relationship: a disciple must faithfully carry out the teacher’s instructions, preserve the teacher’s household order, and uphold daily sacred duties when the teacher is away.
The teacher, preparing to leave for a ritual obligation connected with a patron’s sacrifice, assigns his disciple Uttaṅka to manage responsibilities in his absence.