Shloka 28
Uttanka’s Guru-Śuśrūṣā and the Commission to Retrieve the Maṇikuṇḍalas (उत्तङ्क-गुरुशुश्रूषा तथा मणिकुण्डल-आदेशः)
उत्तड़कायामृतं देहि तोयरूपमिति प्रभु: । स मामुवाच देदवेन्द्रो न मर्त्योमर्त्यतां ब्रजेत्
Uttaḍuka uvāca: uttaḍukāyāmṛtaṃ dehi toyarūpam iti prabhuḥ | sa mām uvāca devendro na martyo martyatāṃ brajet ||
Uttaḍuka berkata: “Wahai Tuan, berikanlah kepada Uttaḍuka amṛta dalam wujud air.” Namun Devendra berulang kali menjawab kepadaku, “Seorang fana tak dapat melampaui kefanaan.” Maka ia menganjurkan agar diberi anugerah lain sebagai ganti amṛta; tetapi aku tetap menegaskan dengan teguh: “Uttaḍuka harus diberi amṛta saja.”
उत्तडुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a boundary in the cosmic order: ordinary mortals are not meant to transcend mortality by divine nectar. It highlights the ethical tension between compassion or promise on one side and the limits of divine law on the other.
Uttaḍuka reports a request made to Indra to grant amṛta as water for Uttaḍuka. Indra refuses, stating that a mortal cannot become immortal, and suggests giving a different boon instead; the petitioner nevertheless insists on amṛta.