Shloka 5
Aṣṭāvakra–Bandi Vāda at Janaka’s Assembly
Numerical Cosmology and Restitution
दारपाल उवाच बन्दे: समादेशकरा वयं सम निबोध वाक््यं च मये्यमाणम् | न वै बाला: प्रविशन्त्यत्र विप्रा वृद्धा विदग्धा: प्रविशन्त्यत्र विप्रा:
dārapāla uvāca | bandeḥ samādeśakarā vayaṃ sama nibodha vākyaṃ ca maye yamāṇam | na vai bālāḥ praviśanty atra viprā vṛddhā vidagdhāḥ praviśanty atra viprāḥ ||
El guardián de la puerta dijo: «Somos servidores que cumplimos órdenes. Así que escucha con atención el mensaje que debo transmitir. Aquí no se permite la entrada a los brahmanes jóvenes; sólo pueden entrar los brahmanes ancianos y consumados».
दारपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adherence to established rules and the idea that access to certain spaces or audiences is regulated by qualification—here framed as maturity and learning—while the gatekeeper emphasizes duty-bound obedience to orders.
A gatekeeper addresses someone seeking entry and relays the standing instruction: young brāhmaṇas are not admitted, whereas senior and accomplished brāhmaṇas may enter.