Shloka 14
स्तुवन्ति त्वां मुनिगणास्त्वदन्यो नास्ति धर्मवित् | तमब्रवीदृषि: क्रुद्धो वचनं वै महातपा:,महर्षिंगण तुम्हारी स्तुति करते हैं। तुम्हारे सिवा दूसरा कोई नरेश धर्मका ज्ञाता नहीं है। उनकी यह बात सुनकर महातपस्वी गौतम मुनिने कुपित होकर कहा
stuvanti tvāṁ munigaṇās tvadanyo nāsti dharmavit | tam abravīd ṛṣiḥ kruddho vacanaṁ vai mahātapāḥ |
The assemblies of sages praise you, declaring that apart from you there is no other knower of dharma. Hearing these words, the great ascetic sage—angered—addressed him in reply.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
External praise for being a ‘knower of dharma’ is not the final measure of righteousness; a true ascetic may challenge flattering claims and insist on a stricter, principled understanding of dharma.
Sages extol a person as uniquely knowledgeable in dharma; upon hearing this, a great ascetic sage becomes angry and begins to speak, signaling an impending reprimand or clarification about dharma.