Shloka 120
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
भगवजन्नेतदज्ञानादन्न॑ं सकेशमुपाहतं शीतं तत् क्षामये भवन्तं न भवेयमन्ध इति तमुत्तड़क: प्रत्युवाच,'भगवन्! यह केशयुक्त और शीतल अन्न अनजानमें आपके पास लाया गया है। अतः इस अपराधके लिये मैं आपसे क्षमा माँगता हूँ। आप ऐसी कृपा कीजिये, जिससे मैं अन्धा न होऊँ।” तब उत्तंकने राजासे कहा--
rāma uvāca | bhagavan etad ajñānād annaṃ sa-keśam upāhataṃ śītaṃ tat kṣāmaye bhavantaṃ na bhaveyam andha iti tam uttaṅkaḥ pratyuvāca |
Rama said: “Revered sir, through ignorance I have brought you food that has hair in it and has become cold. For this offense I beg your forgiveness. Please show me such grace that I may not become blind.” Thus addressed, Uttaṅka replied to the king—(and the narrative continues). The passage highlights the ethical weight of carelessness in service to a revered person and the urgency of seeking pardon before a fault hardens into consequence.
राम उवाच