Shloka 22
तुम्हें इस बन्दीकी शक्तिका कुछ भी ज्ञान नहीं है। इसीलिये उसे जीतनेकी इच्छा कर रहे हो। आजसे पहले कितने ही दिद्वान् ब्राह्मण बन्दीसे मिले हैं और जैसे सूर्यके सामने ताराओंका प्रकाश फीका पड़ जाता है उसी प्रकार वे बन्दीके सामने हतप्रभ हो गये 2204. 4 ५॥ आशंसन्तो बन्दिनं जेतुकामा- स्तस्यान्तिकं प्राप्प विलुप्तशोभा: । विज्ञानमत्ता निःसृताश्चैव तात कथं सदस्यैर्वचनं विस्तरेयु:,तात! कितने ही ज्ञानोन्मत्त ब्राह्मण बन्दीको जीतनेकी अभिलाषा रखकर शास्त्रार्थकी घोषणा करते हुए आये हैं; किंतु उनके निकट पहुँचते ही उनका प्रभाव नष्ट हो गया है। इतना ही नहीं, वे पराजित एवं तिरस्कृत हो चुपचाप राजसभासे निकल गये हैं। फिर वे अन्य सदस्योंके साथ वार्तालाप ही कैसे कर सकते हैं
āśaṃsanto bandinaṃ jetukāmās tasyāntikaṃ prāpya viluptaśobhāḥ | vijñānamattā niḥsṛtāś caiva tāta kathaṃ sadasyair vacanaṃ vistareyuḥ ||
Aṣṭāvakra said: “Many learned brāhmaṇas, intoxicated with their own learning, have come proclaiming a debate, eager to defeat Bandi. But the moment they reached his presence, their brilliance was extinguished—like the light of stars before the sun. Defeated and humiliated, they slipped out of the royal assembly in silence. How, then, could they possibly stay and speak at length among the other members?”
अष्टावक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Intellectual pride is fragile: mere confidence in one’s learning collapses when tested by a truly formidable opponent. The verse cautions against underestimating others and implies that genuine wisdom includes humility and realistic self-assessment.
Aṣṭāvakra warns that Bandi is extraordinarily powerful in debate. He describes how many learned brāhmaṇas came to challenge Bandi in the royal court, but on meeting him they lost their composure and prestige, were defeated, and left the assembly silently—unable even to converse afterward.