Shloka 98
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स॒ एवमुक्तस्तया प्रातिष्ठतोत्तड़ुक: स पथि गच्छन्नपश्यदृषभमतिप्रमाणं तमधिरूढं च पुरुषमतिप्रमाणमेव स पुरुष उत्तड़कमभ्यभाषत,गुरुपत्नीके ऐसा कहनेपर उत्तंक वहाँसे चल दिये। मार्गमें जाते समय उन्होंने एक बहुत बड़े बैलको और उसपर चढ़े हुए एक विशालकाय पुरुषको भी देखा। उस पुरुषने उत्तंकसे कहा--
sa evam uktas tayā prātiṣṭhatottaḍukaḥ | sa pathi gacchann apaśyad ṛṣabham atipramāṇaṃ tam adhirūḍhaṃ ca puruṣam atipramāṇam eva | sa puruṣa uttaḍukam abhyabhāṣata |
Así interpelado por ella, Uttaṅka se puso en camino. Mientras avanzaba por la ruta, vio un toro de tamaño extraordinario y, montado sobre él, a un hombre de estatura igualmente inmensa. Aquel hombre habló entonces a Uttaṅka—poniendo en marcha el giro siguiente de los acontecimientos y probando el discernimiento y la firmeza del viajero en la búsqueda de su deber.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights steadfastness in one’s assigned duty: once instructed by an authority figure (here, the guru’s wife), the disciple proceeds without delay, and the journey immediately presents a significant encounter—suggesting that dharma is often tested through unexpected situations requiring discernment and composure.
Uttaṅka departs after being addressed by the guru’s wife. On the road he sees a gigantic bull with an equally gigantic man mounted on it. The mounted man then speaks to Uttaṅka, introducing the next episode of the Uttanka narrative.