Shloka 15
अष्टावक्र-प्रवेशः तथा ब्रह्मोद्य-प्रारम्भः
Aṣṭāvakra’s Entry and the Opening of the Brahmodya
उक्तस्त्वेवं भार्यया वै कहोडो वित्तस्यार्थे जनकमथाभ्यगच्छत् । स वै तदा वादविदा निगृहा निमज्जितो बन्दिनेहाप्सु विप्र:,पत्नीके ऐसा कहनेपर कहोड मुनि धनके लिये राजा जनकके दरबारमें गये। उस समय शात्त्रार्थी पण्डित बन्दीने उन ब्रह्मर्षिको विवादमें हराकर जलमें डुबो दिया
uktas tv evaṁ bhāryayā vai kahodo vittasyārthe janakam athābhyagacchat | sa vai tadā vādavidā nigṛhya nimajjito bandinehāpsu vipraḥ ||
Thus urged by his wife, Kahoda went to King Janaka to obtain wealth. There, in that assembly, the learned debater Bandi defeated the brāhmaṇa in disputation and, having subdued him, caused him to be plunged into the waters—showing how pride in learning and the misuse of royal power can turn scholarship into cruelty.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Learning and debate, when driven by ego or used as a tool of domination, become adharma; true scholarship should be joined to compassion and restraint, and rulers must ensure that intellectual contests do not become instruments of cruelty.
Kahoda, prompted by his wife to seek wealth, goes to King Janaka’s court. There he is challenged by the court-debater Bandi, is defeated in disputation, and is then cast into the waters—setting the stage for later redress through Kahoda’s son (Aṣṭāvakra) in the broader episode.