Shloka 11
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
तपस्विनो महात्मानो वेदप्रत्ययदर्शिन: । उदीर्यमाणं राजानं क्रोधदीप्ता द्विजातय:
tapasvino mahātmāno vedapratyayadarśinaḥ | udīryamāṇaṃ rājānaṃ krodhadīptā dvijātayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Los ascetas, grandes de alma, los sabios dos veces nacidos—quienes contemplaban con certeza las verdades del Veda—se inflamaron de ira mientras el rey seguía insistiendo. Al verlo persistir en sus preguntas pese a las amonestaciones, se alzaron indignados y se dispusieron a hablarle, trazando el límite ético entre la indagación humilde y la provocación arrogante.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical limit: inquiry should be guided by humility and receptivity. When a ruler’s questioning becomes insistence fueled by pride, even patient sages—grounded in Vedic certainty—may respond with righteous anger to reassert dharma and proper conduct.
A king continues to press questions repeatedly; the ascetic Brahmin seers, who understand Vedic principles, become angered at his persistent, agitated manner and are about to speak to him in response.