Shloka 52
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
अथ तस्मिन्ननागच्छति सूर्य चास्ताचलावलम्बिनि उपाध्याय: शिष्यानवोचत्-- नायात्युपमन्युस्त ऊचुर्वनं गतो गा रक्षितुमिति,तदनन्तर जब सूर्यदेव अस्ताचलकी चोटीपर पहुँच गये, तब भी उपमन्यु गुरुके घरपर नहीं आया, तो उपाध्यायने शिष्योंसे पूछा--“उपमन्यु क्यों नहीं आया?' वे बोले--“वह तो गाय चरानेके लिये वनमें गया था”
atha tasminn anāgacchati sūrye cāstācala-avalambini upādhyāyaḥ śiṣyān avocat— nāyāty upamanyuḥ. ta ūcuḥ— vanaṃ gato gā rakṣitum iti.
When Upamanyu still did not return and the sun was already sinking toward the western mountain, the teacher addressed the pupils: “Upamanyu has not come.” They replied, “He has gone to the forest to guard the cows.” The scene underscores the discipline of a student’s duty and the seriousness with which service entrusted by the teacher—here, protecting the cattle—is to be carried out, even at personal cost and beyond ordinary time.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights śiṣya-dharma: a student must faithfully carry out the teacher’s assigned duty. Guarding the cows is treated as a serious responsibility, implying steadiness, obedience, and endurance rather than convenience.
As evening approaches and the sun is setting, the teacher notices that Upamanyu has not returned. When asked, the other students report that Upamanyu has gone into the forest to protect the cows.