Shloka 46
Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
सारस्वतं मुनिश्रेष्ठमिदमूचु: समागता: । अस्मानध्यापयस्वेति तानुवाच ततो मुनि:
sārasvataṃ muniśreṣṭham idam ūcuḥ samāgatāḥ | asmān adhyāpayasveti tān uvāca tato muniḥ ||
Those who had assembled addressed Sārasvata, the foremost of sages, with this request: “Teach us.” Thereupon the sage spoke to them—framing the scene as a respectful approach to learning, where knowledge is sought through humility and granted through the teacher’s consent and guidance.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Learning is approached through respectful petition and readiness to be instructed; the verse highlights the ethical posture of students—humility and earnest seeking—and the responsibility of the sage to respond with guidance.
A group of people gathers and requests the sage Sārasvata to teach them. After their request—“Teach us”—the sage begins to speak, marking the transition into an instructional or explanatory passage.