Shloka 99
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
भो उत्तड़कैतत् पुरीषमस्य ऋषभस्य भक्षयस्वेति स एवमुक्तो नैच्छत्,“उत्तंक! तुम इस बैलका गोबर खा लो।' किंतु उसके ऐसा कहनेपर भी उत्तंकको वह गोबर खानेकी इच्छा नहीं हुई
bho uttaṅka etat purīṣam asya ṛṣabhasya bhakṣayasveti sa evam ukto naicchat
Rāma dijo: «Oh Uttaṅka, come este estiércol del toro». Pero, aun después de serle dicho así, Uttaṅka no consintió: no sintió voluntad alguna de comerlo. El episodio pone de relieve la tensión moral entre obedecer una instrucción y el sentido interior de pureza y decoro, poniendo a prueba el discernimiento (viveka) junto con el deber (dharma).
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic test: whether one should obey a command that appears impure or improper. It points to the need for discernment—dharma is not merely mechanical obedience, but also involves moral judgment and inner integrity.
Rāma instructs Uttaṅka to eat the dung of a bull. Uttaṅka, despite hearing the command, refuses internally and does not agree to do it, indicating hesitation and moral resistance within the unfolding test.