Shloka 49
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
तमुपाध्याय: प्रत्युवाच--एते त्वदनुकम्पया गुणवन्तो वत्सा: प्रभूततरं फेनमुद्गिरन्ति । तदेषामपि वत्सानां वृत्त्युपरोधं करोष्येवं वर्तमान: | फेनमपि भवान् न पातुमर्हतीति । स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य पुनररक्षद् गा:,यह सुनकर उपाध्यायने कहा--'ये बछड़े उत्तम गुणोंसे युक्त हैं, अतः तुमपर दया करके बहुत-सा फेन उगल देते होंगे। इसलिये तुम फेन पीकर तो इन सभी बछड़ोंकी जीविकामें बाधा उपस्थित करते हो, अत: आजसे फेन भी न पिया करो।” उपमन्युने “बहुत अच्छा” कहकर उसे न पीनेकी प्रतिज्ञा कर ली और पूर्ववत् गौओंकी रक्षा करने लगा
tam upādhyāyaḥ pratyuvāca—ete tvad-anukampayā guṇavanto vatsāḥ prabhūtataraṃ phenaṃ udgiranti | tad eṣām api vatsānāṃ vṛtty-uparodhaṃ karoṣy evaṃ vartamānaḥ | phenaṃ api bhavān na pātuṃ arhati iti | sa tatheti pratiśrutya punar arakṣad gāḥ |
The teacher replied: “These calves are endowed with good qualities; out of compassion for you they are bringing up an even greater amount of foam. But by living in this way—drinking that foam—you are obstructing the livelihood of these calves. Therefore, from today you must not drink even the foam.” Upamanyu agreed, saying, “So be it,” vowed not to drink it, and once again continued guarding the cows as before.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even seemingly minor indulgences can cause harm or deprive others of their rightful sustenance; therefore, ethical discipline requires restraint and sensitivity to the welfare of dependent beings. The guru trains the student to avoid benefiting from compassion in a way that becomes exploitation.
Upamanyu has been sustaining himself by drinking the milk-foam produced by calves. The teacher explains that the calves produce extra foam out of compassion, but drinking it hinders their nourishment; he forbids even the foam. Upamanyu accepts the instruction, vows to abstain, and resumes guarding the cows.