Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)
के देशा: परिदृष्टास्ते कि च कार्य करोमि ते । तद् ब्रूहि द्विजमुख्य त्वं त्वं हुस्माकं परा गति:,“विप्रवर! इस समय आपने किन-किन देशोंका निरीक्षण किया है? बताइये मैं आपकी क्या सेवा करूँ? क्योंकि आप हमलोगोंकी परम गति हैं'
ke deśāḥ paridṛṣṭās te ki ca kāryaṃ karomi te | tad brūhi dvijamukhya tvaṃ tvaṃ hy asmākaṃ parā gatiḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai yang utama di antara para dwija, wilayah-wilayah mana saja telah engkau tinjau? Katakan, layanan apa yang dapat kupersembahkan kepadamu? Sebab engkaulah sandaran tertinggi dan tujuan akhir kami.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse foregrounds dharmic humility and the ethic of service: one should seek guidance from the truly learned and treat them as a ‘supreme refuge’ for right conduct, asking how best to assist and follow their counsel.
The speaker respectfully addresses a leading brahmin/sage, inquiring which lands he has inspected and offering to carry out any task for him, acknowledging the sage as the highest guide and support for their course of action.