Shloka 20
Aṣṭāvakra–Bandi Vāda at Janaka’s Assembly
Numerical Cosmology and Restitution
राजोवाच आशंससे बन्दिनं वै विजेतु- मविज्ञाय त्वं वाक्यबलं परस्य । विज्ञातवीर्य: शक््यमेवं प्रवक्तुं दृष्टश्नासौ ब्राह्मणैवेंदशीलै:,राजा बोले--ब्राह्मणकुमार! तुम अपने विपक्षीकी प्रवचन-शक्तिको जाने बिना ही बन्दीको जीतनेकी इच्छा रखते हो। जो प्रतिवादीके बलको जानते हों वे ही ऐसी बातें कह सकते हैं। वेदोंका अनुशीलन करनेवाले बहुत-से ब्राह्मण बन्दीका प्रभाव देख चुके हैं
rājovāca āśaṃsase bandinaṃ vai vijetuṃ avijñāya tvaṃ vākyabalaṃ parasya | vijñātavīryaḥ śakyam evaṃ pravaktuṃ dṛṣṭaśnāsau brāhmaṇair vedśīlaiḥ ||
The king said: “You hope to defeat Bandi without even knowing the strength of his speech. Only one who has understood an opponent’s power can speak in such a way. Many Brahmins devoted to the study of the Vedas have already witnessed Bandi’s formidable influence.”
अष्टावक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not boast or rush into contest without first understanding the opponent’s true capability; ethical speech is grounded in knowledge, humility, and realistic appraisal rather than mere confidence.
The king cautions a young challenger who wishes to defeat Bandi, warning that Bandi’s rhetorical power is well-known and has already been witnessed by many Veda-trained Brahmins.