Shloka 97
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
ते आनयस्व चतुर्थेडहनि पुण्यकं भविता ताभ्यामाबद्धाभ्यां शोभमाना ब्राह्मणान् परिवेष्टमिच्छामि । तत् सम्पादयस्व, एवं हि कुर्वतः श्रेयो भवितान्यथा कुतः श्रेय इति,“और उन कुण्डलोंको शीघ्र ले आओ। आजके चौथे दिन पुण्यक व्रत होनेवाला है, मैं उस दिन कानोंमें उन कुण्डलोंको पहनकर सुशोभित हो ब्राह्मणोंको भोजन परोसना चाहती हूँ; अतः तुम मेरा यह मनोरथ पूर्ण करो। तुम्हारा कल्याण होगा। अन्यथा कल्याणकी प्राप्ति कैसे सम्भव है?”
te ānayasva caturthe ’hani puṇyakaṁ bhavitā tābhyām ābaddhābhyāṁ śobhamānā brāhmaṇān pariveṣṭum icchāmi | tat sampādayasva, evaṁ hi kurvataḥ śreyo bhavitānyathā kutaḥ śreya iti ||
“Bring those earrings quickly. On the fourth day the sacred Puṇyaka observance will take place; on that day I wish to be adorned by wearing those earrings and, thus beautified, to serve food to the Brahmins. Therefore fulfill this desire of mine. By doing so, your welfare will follow; otherwise, how could welfare be attained?”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links personal adornment and ritual preparation to ethical action: serving Brahmins during a vowed observance is presented as a source of śreyaḥ (welfare/auspicious good). It frames timely fulfillment of a righteous request—supporting a meritorious rite and hospitality—as a path to well-being.
The speaker instructs someone to quickly fetch a pair of earrings. She plans to wear them on the fourth day when the Puṇyaka observance occurs, and then, adorned, serve food to Brahmins. She urges the listener to complete this task, asserting that doing so will bring welfare, and questioning how welfare could arise otherwise.