Shloka 115
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
तमुत्तड़क: प्रत्युवाच कृतक्षण एवास्मि शीघ्रमिच्छामि यथोपपन्नमन्नमुपस्कृतं भवतेति स तथेत्युक्त्वा यथोपपन्नेनान्नेनेने भोजयामास,तब उत्तंकने राजासे कहा--“मेरा समय तो दिया ही हुआ है, किंतु शीघ्रता चाहता हूँ। आपके यहाँ जो शुद्ध एवं सुसंस्कृत भोजन तैयार हो उसे मँगाइये।” राजाने “बहुत अच्छा” कहकर जो भोजन-सामग्री प्रस्तुत थी, उसके द्वारा उन्हें भोजन कराया
tam uttankaḥ pratyuvāca: kṛtakṣaṇa evāsmi, śīghram icchāmi; yathopapannam annam upaskṛtaṃ bhavate iti. sa tathety uktvā yathopapannena annena enam bhojayāmāsa.
Uttaṅka replied, “My appointed time has already been granted; yet I desire haste. Please have brought whatever pure and properly prepared food is available in your house.” The king, saying “So be it,” then fed him with the food that was ready at hand. The episode underscores the ethic of honoring one’s word while also meeting a guest’s request promptly and with purity.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in practice: a host—especially a king—should honor commitments (kṛtakṣaṇa) and serve a guest promptly, offering food that is pure and properly prepared, even if it is simply what is readily available (yathopapannam).
Uttaṅka asks the king to act quickly and provide whatever well-prepared food is available. The king agrees and immediately serves him the food that is at hand.