Shloka 170
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
तत् सौम्य गम्यतामनुजाने भवन्तं श्रेयोडवाप्स्यसीति । स उपाध्यायेनानुज्ञातो भगवानुत्तड़कः: क्रुद्धस्तक्षकं प्रतिचिकीर्षमाणो हास्तिनपुरं प्रतस्थे,“अतः सौम्य! अब तुम जाओ, मैं तुम्हें जानेकी आज्ञा देता हूँ। तुम कल्याणके भागी होओगे।” उपाध्यायकी आज्ञा पाकर उत्तंक तक्षकके प्रति कुपित हो उससे बदला लेनेकी इच्छासे हस्तिनापुरकी ओर चल दिये
tat saumya gamyatām anujāne bhavantaṃ śreyod avāpsyasīti | sa upādhyāyenānujñāto bhagavān uttaṅkaḥ kruddhas takṣakaṃ praticikīrṣamāṇo hāstinapuraṃ pratasthē |
“Dear one, you may go now; I grant you leave. You shall attain what is truly auspicious.” Thus permitted by his teacher, the venerable Uttanka—angered at Takṣaka and intent on retaliation—set out for Hāstinapura. The passage frames a moral tension: the guru’s benevolent blessing contrasts with the disciple’s rising wrath and desire for vengeance, setting the stage for consequences driven by anger rather than discernment.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes a teacher’s blessing for the disciple’s welfare (śreyaḥ) with the disciple’s turn toward anger and revenge. It highlights an ethical warning: even when one is formally ‘permitted’ and outwardly blessed, inner motives—especially wrath—can drive actions toward harmful outcomes.
Uttanka receives leave from his teacher to depart, along with a benediction that he will attain auspicious good. Immediately after, Uttanka, furious at the serpent Takṣaka and seeking retaliation, begins his journey toward Hāstinapura, advancing the plot that links Takṣaka with events in the Kuru realm.