Shloka 8
Gandhamādana-praveśa and Vṛṣaparvan-āśrama
Entry toward Gandhamādana; hospitality and onward route
आमन्त्र्य यक्षराजं॑ वै तत: पिब हरस्व च । नातो<न्यथा त्वया शक््यं किंचित् पुष्करमीक्षितुम्,पहले यक्षराजकी आज्ञा ले लो, उसके बाद इस सरोवरका जल पीओ और यहाँसे कमलके फूल ले जाओ। ऐसा किये बिना तुम यहाँके किसी कमलकी ओर देख भी नहीं सकते
āmantṛya yakṣarājaṃ vai tataḥ piba harasva ca | nāto ’nyathā tvayā śakyaṃ kiñcit puṣkaram īkṣitum ||
Bhīma said: “First seek the permission of the Yakṣa-king; then drink the water and take the lotuses away. Otherwise, you are not able—by any means—to so much as look upon anything in this lake.”
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful person must observe rightful procedure: one should seek permission and honor the guardian of a place before using its resources. Ethical restraint and respect for rightful authority precede enjoyment or gain.
Bhīma instructs his companion that the lake and its lotuses are under the Yakṣa-king’s control. Without first addressing and obtaining the Yakṣa’s consent, drinking the water or taking lotuses—and even looking upon them—is forbidden and impossible.