Shloka 20
उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानप्रारम्भः — Uttanka’s Tapas, Viṣṇu-stuti, and the Dhundhumāra Prophecy
Opening
निबोध च शुभां वाणी यां प्रवक्ष्यामि तेडनघ । न ब्राह्मणे परिभव: कर्तव्यस्ते कदाचन
nibodha ca śubhāṁ vāṇīṁ yāṁ pravakṣyāmi te 'nagha | na brāhmaṇe paribhavaḥ kartavyas te kadācana ||
मार्कण्डेय बोले—हे निष्पाप! जो शुभ वाणी मैं तुमसे कहने जा रहा हूँ, उसे ध्यान से सुनो। तुम्हें कभी भी किसी ब्राह्मण का अपमान नहीं करना चाहिए।
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should never show contempt or cause humiliation to a brāhmaṇa; respectful conduct and restrained speech are presented as essential to dharma.
The sage Mārkaṇḍeya begins a direct instruction, asking the listener to attend to his auspicious counsel, and he opens with a clear ethical prohibition against disrespecting brāhmaṇas.