Shloka 2
Aṣṭāvakra–Bandi Vāda at Janaka’s Assembly
Numerical Cosmology and Restitution
राजोवाच पन्था अयं तेड्द्य मयातिदिष्टो येनेच्छसि तेन काम॑ व्रजस्व । न पावको विद्यते वै लघीया- निन्द्रोडपि नित्यं नमते ब्राह्मणानाम्,राजाने कहा--ब्राह्मणकुमार! लो मैंने तुम्हारे लिये आज यह मार्ग दे दिया है। तुम जिससे जाना चाहो उसी मार्गसे इच्छानुसार चले जाओ। आग कभी छोटी नहीं होती। देवराज इन्द्र भी सदा ब्राह्मणोंके आगे मस्तक झुकाते हैं
rājovāca panthā ayaṃ te ’dya mayātidisṭo yenecchasi tena kāmaṃ vrajasva | na pāvako vidyate vai laghīyān indro ’pi nityaṃ namate brāhmaṇānām ||
The king said: “Today I have shown you this path. Go, as you wish, by whichever way you choose. Fire is never ‘small’ (to be taken lightly); and even Indra, lord of the gods, continually bows his head before Brahmins.”
अष्टावक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not treat spiritual power and moral authority lightly: just as fire is never truly ‘small’ when it can burn, so too the dignity of Brahmins (and, by extension, dharma and learning) commands reverence—even from the highest, like Indra.
A king addresses a Brahmin youth, granting him freedom to depart by any route he prefers, while reinforcing a norm of conduct: rulers should show humility and respect toward Brahmins, citing Indra’s continual obeisance as an exemplar.