Shloka 84
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
भो यत् किंचिदस्मदगृहे परिहीयते तदिच्छाम्यहमपरिहीयमानं भवता क्रियमाणमिति स एवं प्रतिसंदिश्योत्तड़क॑ वेद: प्रवासं जगाम,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
rāma uvāca | bho yat kiñcid asmadgṛhe parihīyate tad icchāmy aham aparihīyamānaṃ bhavatā kriyamāṇam iti | sa evaṃ pratisaṃdiśyottaṅkaṃ vedaḥ pravāsaṃ jagāma |
Rama said: “Listen—if anything at all in my household falls into shortage or is found lacking, I wish that it not remain lacking; you must see to its being supplied and set right.” Having thus instructed Utanka, the brahmin teacher Veda departed on a journey, entrusting the student with the duty of maintaining the household’s sacred and practical obligations in his absence. The ethical emphasis is on a disciple’s responsibility, vigilance, and fidelity to the teacher’s trust, especially regarding domestic order and ritual continuity.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
A disciple must uphold the teacher’s trust by preventing any lapse—material or ritual—in the teacher’s household during the teacher’s absence. The verse highlights responsibility, attentiveness, and faithful execution of assigned duty (niyoga) as part of dharma.
The speaker instructs the student Utanka that if anything in the household becomes deficient, he must ensure it is promptly supplied and set right. After giving this charge, the teacher Veda departs on a journey, leaving Utanka in charge of maintaining the household’s proper functioning.