Shloka 164
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
पथि गच्छता च मया ऋषभो दृष्टस्तं च पुरुषो5धिरूढस्तेनास्मि सोपचारमुक्त उत्तड़कास्य ऋषभस्य पुरीषं भक्षय उपाध्यायेनापि ते भक्षितमिति,इधरसे जाते समय मार्गमें मैंने एक बैल देखा, उसपर एक पुरुष सवार था। उस पुरुषने मुझसे आग्रहपूर्वक कहा--'उत्तंक! इस बैलका गोबर खा लो। तुम्हारे उपाध्यायने भी पहले इसे खाया है”
pathi gacchatā ca mayā ṛṣabho dṛṣṭaḥ; taṃ ca puruṣo 'dhirūḍhaḥ. tenāsmi sopacāram uktaḥ—“uttaṅka, asya ṛṣabhasya purīṣaṃ bhakṣaya; upādhyāyenāpi te bhakṣitam iti.”
As I was travelling along the road, I saw a bull, and a man mounted upon it. That rider addressed me with insistent courtesy and said: “Uttaṅka, eat the dung of this bull. Your own teacher has eaten it before.” The episode tests the disciple’s obedience and discernment—whether he can follow a difficult instruction while trusting the hidden purpose behind it.
राम उवाच