Shloka 49
Kuvalāśva’s Lineage and Uttaṅka’s Petition concerning Dhundhu (धुन्धु-प्रसङ्गः)
राजोवाच अनड्वाहौ सुव्रतौ साधु दान्ता- वेतद् विप्राणां वाहनं वामदेव । ताभ्यां याहि त्वं तत्र कामो महर्षे छन््दांसि वै त्वादृशं संवहन्ति,राजा बोले--वामदेवजी! ये दो अच्छे स्वभावके सीखे-सिखाये हृष्ट-पुष्ट बैल हैं, जो गाड़ी खींच सकते हैं; ये ही ब्राह्मणोंके लिये उचित वाहन हो सकते हैं। अतः महर्षे! इन्हींको गाड़ीमें जोतकर आप जहाँ चाहें जायँ। आप-जैसे महात्माका भार तो वेदमन्त्र ही वहन करते हैं
rājovāca—anaḍvāhau suvratau sādhu dāntāv etad viprāṇāṁ vāhanaṁ vāmadeva | tābhyāṁ yāhi tvaṁ tatra kāmo maharṣe chāndāṁsi vai tvādṛśaṁ saṁvahanti ||
The king said: “Vāmadeva, here are two well-vowed, well-trained, and properly disciplined bulls—fit to draw a cart. Such a conveyance is suitable for brahmins. Therefore, O great sage, yoke these two and go wherever you wish. As for one like you, it is the Vedic hymns themselves that bear your true ‘weight’.”
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True honor to a sage is not merely material support but recognition of spiritual stature: the king provides a proper conveyance for a brahmin while affirming that the sage’s real ‘burden’ is borne by Vedic chandas—i.e., by sacred knowledge and discipline, not by animals or worldly means.
A king addresses the sage Vāmadeva and offers two well-trained draught bulls as a suitable vehicle for a brahmin, inviting him to travel wherever he wishes. He adds a reverential compliment that Vedic hymns themselves carry one like Vāmadeva, underscoring the sage’s spiritual eminence.