Shloka 20
Uttaṅka’s Petition for Madayantī’s Divine Earrings (Maṇikuṇḍala) — Agreement, Proof, and Vigilance
उत्तडुक उवाच गुर्वर्थ क॑ प्रयच्छामि ब्रूहि त्वं द्विजसत्तम । तमुपाहत्य गच्छेयमनुज्ञातस्त्वया विभो
Uttaṅka uvāca: gurvarthaṃ kiṃ prayacchāmi? brūhi tvaṃ dvijasattama. tam upāhṛtya gaccheyam anujñātas tvayā vibho.
Uttaṅka dit : «Ô le meilleur des brahmanes, dis-moi : que dois-je offrir comme guru-dakṣiṇā, la rétribution due au maître ? Après l’avoir apportée et déposée à tes pieds, pourrai-je retourner chez moi avec ta permission, ô vénérable ?»
उत्तडुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in the guru–disciple bond: a student should seek to repay instruction through an appropriate guru-dakṣiṇā and should not presume independence, but depart only with the teacher’s consent.
Uttaṅka addresses his teacher respectfully, asking what offering he should bring as the teacher’s fee; he requests permission to return home after presenting it.