Shloka 28
अब्रवीत् तास्तदा वाक््यं शुक: परमधर्मवित् | पिता यद्यनुगच्छेन्मां क्रोशभान: शुकेति वै,तब परम धर्मज्ञ शुकदेवजीने उन सबसे कहा--'देवियो! यदि मेरे पिताजी मेरा नाम लेकर पुकारते हुए इधर आ निकलें तो आप सब लोग सावधान होकर मेरी ओरसे उन्हें उत्तर देना। आप लोगोंका मुझपर बड़ा स्नेह है; इसलिये आप सब मेरी इतनी-सी बात मान लेना'
abravīt tāstadā vākyaṃ śukaḥ paramadharmavit | pitā yadyanugacchen māṃ krośabhānaḥ śuketi vai ||
Then Śuka, the knower of the highest dharma, spoke these words to them: “If my father should come after me, calling out loudly, ‘Śuka!’, then be alert and reply to him on my behalf. You bear great affection for me; therefore, please comply with this small request of mine.”
शुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even while pursuing the highest dharma (renunciation and inner freedom), one should act with consideration for others—here, Śuka requests a careful, truthful, and restrained response so that affection does not turn into disturbance or impropriety.
Śuka addresses a group of women and instructs them that if his father comes searching for him, calling his name loudly, they should remain attentive and answer on his behalf—reflecting Śuka’s resolve to move onward while managing the social consequences of his departure.