Shloka 3
Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
साध्या ऊचु. साध्या देवा वयमेते महर्षे दृष्टवा भवन्तं न शकनुमो<डनुमातुम् । श्रुतेन धीरो बुद्धिमांस्त्वं मतो नः काव्यां वाचं वक्तुमर्हस्युदाराम्
sādhyā ūcuḥ | sādhyā devā vayam ete maharṣe dṛṣṭvā bhavantaṃ na śaknumo ’numātum | śrutena dhīro buddhimāṃs tvaṃ mato naḥ kāvyāṃ vācaṃ vaktum arhasy udārām |
Para Sādhya berkata: “Wahai maharsi, kami adalah para dewa Sādhya. Hanya dengan memandangmu, kami tak mampu menilai siapa engkau sesungguhnya. Namun dari apa yang kami dengar, kami memandangmu sebagai yang menguasai śāstra, teguh, dan bijaksana. Karena itu, sampaikanlah kepada kami tutur yang luhur, indah, dan memberi tuntunan.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True authority is recognized not merely by appearance but by qualities attested through learning, steadiness, and wisdom; therefore, noble speech should be used to instruct and guide others in dharma.
A group of deities called the Sādhyas address a great seer. They admit they cannot identify him by sight alone, but having heard of his learning and character, they request him to deliver an elevated, instructive discourse.