Shloka 44
Kuvalāśva’s Lineage and Uttaṅka’s Petition concerning Dhundhu (धुन्धु-प्रसङ्गः)
अथर्षिश्चिन्त्यामास तरुणो राजपुत्र: कल्याणं पत्रमासाद्य रमते न प्रतिनिर्यातयत्यहो कष्टमिति,उधर वामदेव मुनि मन-ही-मन इस प्रकार चिन्ता करने लगे--'अहो! वह तरुण राजकुमार मेरे अच्छे घोड़ोंको लेकर मौज कर रहा है, उन्हें लौटानेका नाम ही नहीं लेता है। यह तो बड़े कष्टकी बात है!”
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: atharṣir cintayāmāsa—taruṇo rājaputraḥ kalyāṇaṃ patram āsādya ramate na pratininirvātayati; aho kaṣṭam iti.
Vaiśampāyana said: Then the sage reflected to himself, “That young prince, having obtained my fine possession, is enjoying himself and does not return it at all. Alas, this is truly distressing.” The passage highlights the ethical tension between rightful ownership and another’s careless enjoyment, and the sage’s inward struggle before deciding how to respond in accordance with dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Enjoyment gained by withholding what belongs to another is ethically blameworthy; dharma requires restitution and respect for rightful ownership, and the sage models reflective restraint before acting.
The sage notices that a young prince has obtained the sage’s valuable property and is enjoying it without returning it; the sage inwardly laments the situation as distressing.