Shloka 9
नारदकथितं माधव्याः तपश्चर्या–ययातेः स्वर्गविचारः | Nārada on Mādhavī’s Asceticism and the Scrutiny of Yayāti in Heaven
एवं न शक्यमप्राप्य॑ प्राप्तुंगालव करहिचित् । इमामश्वशताभ्यां वै द्वाभ्यां तस्मै निवेदय
evaṁ na śakyam aprāpya prāptuṁ gālava karhicit | imām aśvaśatābhyāṁ vai dvābhyāṁ tasmai nivedaya ||
Nārada said: “O Gālava, what is unattainable cannot be obtained—never. In this land, apart from these six hundred horses, no other horses are to be found; therefore it is impossible to procure the remaining two hundred anywhere. My counsel is this: in exchange for those two hundred horses, offer this maiden herself to Viśvāmitra. O righteous one, present her along with these six hundred horses into Viśvāmitra’s service. By doing so, your anxiety will be dispelled and you will be fully accomplished in your undertaking.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Nārada emphasizes realism within dharma: what is truly unattainable should not be pursued endlessly. Ethical action includes choosing a feasible, duty-aligned solution that fulfills one’s obligation (here, completing the required offering to the guru) and relieves needless anxiety.
Gālava is trying to complete a required number of horses for Viśvāmitra. Nārada explains that only six hundred are obtainable in that region and advises that the remaining value be made up by offering the maiden along with the horses, thereby completing the obligation.