Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 215
Kṛṣṇasya Dvārakā-praveśaḥ — Krishna’s Return to Dvārakā and the Raivataka Festival
सौदास उवाच क्षमं चेदिह वक्तव्यं तव द्विजवरोत्तम । मत्समीपं द्विजश्रेष्ठ नागन्तव्यं कथंचन
Saudāsa uvāca: kṣamaṃ ced iha vaktavyaṃ tava dvijavarottama | matsamīpaṃ dvijaśreṣṭha nāgantavyaṃ kathaṃcana ||
सौदास ने कहा—हे द्विजवरोत्तम! यदि तुम्हें यहाँ कहना उचित लगे, तो हे द्विजश्रेष्ठ! तुम किसी भी प्रकार मेरे समीप मत आना।
सौदास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even while showing honor to a brāhmaṇa through respectful address, one may set firm boundaries when proximity could cause harm or impropriety; dharma includes restraint and prevention of wrongdoing.
King Saudāsa addresses a brāhmaṇa with deference and permits speech if it is appropriate, but explicitly instructs him not to come near, indicating a situation where closeness is considered unsafe or unsuitable.