Shloka 9
तथा तु रक्षिणां तेषां ब्रुवतां स तपोधन: । न किंचिद् वचन राजन्नब्रवीत् साध्वसाधु वा,राजन! उन रक्षकोंके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर तपस्याके धनी उन महर्षिने भला-बुरा कुछ भी नहीं कहा
tathā tu rakṣiṇāṃ teṣāṃ bruvatāṃ sa tapodhanaḥ | na kiṃcid vacanaṃ rājann abravīt sādhv asādhu vā ||
Pero cuando aquellos guardias le hablaron de ese modo, el asceta, rico en austeridades, no pronunció palabra alguna: ni aprobó ni condenó. Así, oh rey, guardó silencio, rehusando dictar juicio con su voz.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights self-restraint in speech: the ascetic does not rush to label actions as good or bad. Such silence can reflect inner discipline (tapas) and a refusal to speak without necessity or clarity, aligning with dharmic restraint.
After the guards address or question him, the ascetic—described as tapodhana—responds with complete silence, offering neither praise nor blame. The narrator (Vaiśampāyana) reports this to the king in the frame-story setting.