Shloka 6
नारदकथितं माधव्याः तपश्चर्या–ययातेः स्वर्गविचारः | Nārada on Mādhavī’s Asceticism and the Scrutiny of Yayāti in Heaven
ऋचीकस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा वरुणस्यालयं गत: । अश्वतीर्थे हयॉल्लब्ध्वा दत्तवान् पार्थिवाय वै ६ ।।
Ṛcīkas tu tathety uktvā Varuṇasyālayaṁ gataḥ | Aśvatīrthe hayān labdhvā dattavān pārthivāya vai || 6 ||
Nārada said: “Ṛcīka, having replied ‘So be it,’ went to the abode of Varuṇa. There, at the sacred ford called Aśvatīrtha, he obtained the horses and duly presented them to the king.” The tale underscores the moral weight of keeping one’s word and fulfilling agreed obligations by rightful means, even when the task demands extraordinary effort and divine aid.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharma as fidelity to one’s promise: once an obligation is accepted, it should be fulfilled conscientiously and through legitimate means, even if it requires seeking help beyond ordinary resources.
Ṛcīka agrees to the request, travels to Varuṇa’s abode, obtains horses at the sacred place Aśvatīrtha, and gives them to the king—advancing the surrounding episode about procuring the required horses as a form of agreed payment.