Shloka 20
उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानम् — Maṇi-Kuṇḍala Retrieval and Entry into Nāgaloka
Chapter 57
सौदासवचन श्रुत्वा ततः सा पृथुलोचना । प्रत्युवाच महाबुद्धिमुत्तड़क॑ जनमेजय,जनमेजय! राजा सौदासका संदेश सुनकर विशाललोचना रानीने महाबुद्धिमान् उत्तंक मुनिको इस प्रकार उत्तर दिया--
saudāsavacanaṁ śrutvā tataḥ sā pṛthulocanā | pratyuvāca mahābuddhim uttankaṁ janamejaya ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : «Ô Janamejaya, ayant entendu le message porté par les paroles du roi Saudāsa, la reine aux grands yeux répondit alors au sage Uttaṅka, à l’esprit élevé, en ces termes.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical speech in a royal context: when a king’s message is heard, a response should be measured and responsible, recognizing the moral consequences that can follow from accepting, rejecting, or reframing royal intent.
Vaiśampāyana narrates to King Janamejaya that the queen, after hearing King Saudāsa’s message, gives her reply to the sage Uttanka, who functions as the interlocutor in this exchange.