Shloka 15
Adhyāya 352: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Saṃvāda — Uñchavrata-niścaya
Dialogue and the Resolve to Practice Uñchavrata
पितामह उवाच स्वागतं ते महाबाहो दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोडसि मेडन्तिकम् | कच्चित् ते कुशल पुत्र स्वाध्यायतपसो: सदा
pitāmaha uvāca: svāgataṁ te mahābāho diṣṭyā prāpto 'si medāntikam | kaccit te kuśala putra svādhyāya-tapasoḥ sadā ||
Le Bisaïeul dit : « Sois le bienvenu, ô toi aux bras puissants. Par heureuse fortune, tu es venu jusqu’à moi ici, à Medāntika. Dis-moi, mon fils : ton étude des saintes doctrines et tes austérités se poursuivent-elles toujours dans de bonnes conditions ? »
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a dharmic ideal: sustained inner cultivation through svādhyāya (scriptural study) and tapas (austerity). The elder’s repeated inquiry reflects that spiritual discipline is not episodic but must be maintained steadily, and that genuine welfare is measured by the health of one’s ethical and contemplative practice.
A revered elder (Pitāmaha) receives a heroic visitor at a place called Medāntika, offers a formal welcome, and then asks after the visitor’s well-being—specifically whether his ongoing study of sacred knowledge and ascetic practice are proceeding successfully.