Shloka 21
नारदकथितं माधव्याः तपश्चर्या–ययातेः स्वर्गविचारः | Nārada on Mādhavī’s Asceticism and the Scrutiny of Yayāti in Heaven
तदनन्तर अष्टक चन्द्रपुरीके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाली विश्वामित्रजीकी राजधानीमें गया और विश्वामित्र भी अपने शिष्य गालवको वह कन्या लौटाकर वनमें चले गये ।।
tad-anantaraṃ aṣṭakaḥ candrapurīke samāna-prakāśitāyāṃ viśvāmitra-jī-kī rājadhānīṃ gataḥ, viśvāmitro 'pi sva-śiṣyaṃ gālavaṃ tāṃ kanyāṃ pratyarpya vane calitaḥ. gālavo 'pi suparṇena saha niryātya dakṣiṇām manasā ati-pratītena kanyām idam uvāca ha.
Thereafter Aṣṭaka went to the city of Candrapurī, to the capital of Viśvāmitra, which shone with comparable splendor. Viśvāmitra too, having returned the maiden to his disciple Gālava, departed for the forest. Gālava also set out with Suparṇa to deliver the teacher’s fee; and with a mind deeply satisfied, he spoke these words to the maiden.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in the guru–śiṣya relationship: the disciple’s obligation to fulfill dakṣiṇā with sincerity, and the teacher’s freedom to renounce worldly ties (symbolized by departing to the forest). It also underscores ethical restraint—returning the maiden to the disciple rather than treating her as property.
After Aṣṭaka reaches Candrapurī, Viśvāmitra returns the maiden to Gālava and withdraws to the forest. Gālava then departs with Suparṇa to obtain/complete the dakṣiṇā, and, feeling deep satisfaction, begins speaking to the maiden.