Shloka 31
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स॒ एवमुक्त उपाध्याय: प्रत्युवाच यस्मादू् भवान् केदारखण्डं विदार्योत्थितस्तस्मादुद्दालक एव नाम्ना भवान् भविष्यतीत्युपाध्यायेनानुगृहीत:,आरुणिके ऐसा कहनेपर उपाध्यायने उत्तर दिया--“तुम क्यारीके मेड़को विदीर्ण करके उठे हो, अत: इस उद्दलनकर्मके कारण उद्दालक नामसे ही प्रसिद्ध होओगे।' ऐसा कहकर उपाध्यायने आरुणिको अनुगृहीत किया
sa evam ukta upādhyāyaḥ pratyuvāca—yasmād bhavān kedārakhaṇḍaṃ vidāryotthitas tasmād uddālaka eva nāmnā bhavān bhaviṣyatīti; upādhyāyenānugṛhītaḥ.
When the teacher had been addressed in this way, he replied: “Since you rose up after splitting open the embankment of the field-plot, therefore you shall indeed be known by the name Uddālaka.” Thus the teacher graciously blessed Āruṇika, conferring on him a name that memorialized his strenuous, dutiful act.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dedicated service performed with endurance becomes a mark of one’s character; the teacher recognizes and sanctifies such effort by granting honor and identity (here, a name) rooted in the disciple’s dutiful deed.
After Āruṇika’s act involving the field-plot embankment—rising up after splitting it—the teacher responds by declaring that Āruṇika will be known as ‘Uddālaka,’ and he blesses him, formally acknowledging his strenuous service.