Shloka 82
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
अथ कम्मिंश्वित् काले वेदं ब्राह्मणं जनमेजय: पौष्यश्न क्षत्रियावुपेत्य वरयित्वोपाध्यायं चक्रतु:ः,एक समयकी बात है--ब्रह्मवेत्ता आचार्य वेदके पास आकर “जनमेजय और पौष्य' नामवाले दो क्षत्रियोंने उनका वरण किया और उन्हें अपना उपाध्याय बना लिया। तदनन्तर एक दिन उपाध्याय वेदने यजमानके कार्यसे बाहर जानेके लिये उद्यत हो उत्तंक नामवाले शिष्यको अग्निहोत्र आदिके कार्यमें नियुक्त किया और कहा--“वत्स उत्तंक! मेरे घरमें मेरे बिना जिस किसी वस्तुकी कमी हो जाय, उसकी पूर्ति तुम कर देना, ऐसी मेरी इच्छा है।' उत्तंकको ऐसा आदेश देकर आचार्य वेद बाहर चले गये
atha kasmiṁścid kāle vedaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ janamejayaḥ pauṣyaś ca kṣatriyāv upetya varayitvopādhyāyaṁ cakratuḥ | tad-anantaram ekadā upādhyāyo vedaḥ yajamāna-kāryeṇa bahir gantum udyataḥ san uttanka-nāma śiṣyam agnihotrādi-kārye niyujya uvāca—“vatsa uttanka! mama gṛhe mayi gate yasyāḥ kasyāścid vastuno nyūnatā bhavet, tasyāḥ pūrtiṁ tvaṁ kuryāḥ; eṣā mama icchā” iti | evam ājñāpayitvā ācāryo vedaḥ bahir jagāma |
Once upon a time, the Brahmin sage Veda was approached by two Kshatriyas, Janamejaya and Pauṣya. Having chosen him, they made him their preceptor. Later, on one occasion, the teacher Veda prepared to go out on a duty connected with his patron’s sacrificial affairs. He assigned his disciple named Uttanka to the daily rites such as the Agnihotra and instructed him: “My child Uttanka, if in my absence anything in my household falls short, you must make it good—this is my wish.” Having given this command, the teacher Veda went out.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharma in the guru–disciple bond: a student must safeguard the teacher’s household and maintain daily sacred duties (like Agnihotra) with vigilance, treating the guru’s needs as a personal responsibility.
Two Kshatriyas, Janamejaya and Pauṣya, choose the Brahmin Veda as their preceptor. Later, Veda leaves on sacrificial business and entrusts his disciple Uttanka with performing daily rites and ensuring that nothing in the household is lacking during his absence.