Shloka 2
Adhyāya 71: Kaca and the Saṃjīvanī-vidyā
Devayānī–Śukra Episode
सो<पश्यमानस्तमृषिं शून्यं दृष्टवा तथा55श्रमम् | उवाच क इहेत्युच्चैर्वनं संनादयन्निव,महर्षि कण्वको न देखकर और आश्रमको सूना पाकर राजाने सम्पूर्ण वनको प्रतिध्वनित करते हुए-से पूछा--“यहाँ कौन है?”
so 'paśyamānas tam ṛṣiṁ śūnyaṁ dṛṣṭvā tathāśramam | uvāca ka iha ity uccair vanaṁ saṁnādayann iva ||
Ne voyant pas le sage et trouvant l’ermitage désert, le roi lança d’une voix forte —comme si toute la forêt en retentissait— : «Qui est ici ?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in conduct: when a ruler encounters a sacred hermitage unexpectedly empty, he should respond with vigilance and respectful inquiry, recognizing the sanctity of ascetic spaces and the duty to ensure safety without intrusion.
The king arrives at a sage’s hermitage, does not see the sage, finds the place deserted, and calls out loudly—“Who is here?”—his voice echoing through the forest.