Shloka 118
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
न युक्त भवतान्नमशुचि दत्त्वा प्रतिशापं दातुं तस्मादन्नमेव प्रत्यक्षीकुरु । ततः पौष्यस्तदन्नमशुचि दृष्टवा तस्याशुचिभावमपरोक्षयामास,“महाराज! अपवित्र अन्न देकर फिर बदलेमें शाप देना आपके लिये कदापि उचित नहीं है। अतः पहले अन्नको ही प्रत्यक्ष देख लीजिये।” तब पौष्यने उस अन्नको अपवित्र देखकर उसकी अपवित्रताके कारणका पता लगाया
na yuktaṁ bhavatānnamaśuci dattvā pratiśāpaṁ dātuṁ tasmād annam eva pratyakṣīkuru | tataḥ pauṣyas tad annam aśuci dṛṣṭvā tasyāśucibhāvam aparokṣayāmāsa, “mahārāja! apavitra anna dekar phira badale meṁ śāpa denā āpake liye kadāpi ucita nahīṁ hai | ataḥ pahale annako hī pratyakṣa dekha lijiye.” taba pauṣyane us annako apavitra dekhakara uskī apavitratāke kāraṇakā patā lagāyā |
Rama said, “It is not proper for you to give impure food and then, in return, pronounce a counter-curse. Therefore, first examine the food itself directly.” Thereupon Pauṣya, seeing that the food was indeed impure, made the cause of its impurity evident and said, “O king, it is never right for you to offer unclean food and then repay with a curse; therefore, first look at the food itself.” Then Pauṣya, having observed the impurity of the food, ascertained the reason for its defilement.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not respond to wrongdoing with retaliatory harm (a counter-curse) without first verifying facts; ethical judgment requires direct examination and fairness, especially for a king.
Rama advises the king to inspect the food directly rather than issuing a counter-curse. Pauṣya then observes the food’s impurity and determines the specific cause of its defilement, emphasizing evidence before condemnation.