Shloka 21

Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)

Devanagari script

उपयाजवच: श्र॒ुत्वा याजस्याश्रममभ्यगात्‌ । अभिसम्पूज्य पूजाहमथ याजमुवाच ह

Transliteration

upayājavacaḥ śrutvā yājasya āśramam abhyagāt | abhisampūjya pūjārham atha yājam uvāca ha |

Translation

ウパヤージャの言葉を聞くと、王はヤージャの庵へ赴いた。敬うべき聖仙をしかるべく礼拝し供養してのち、王はヤージャに語りかけた。この段は、実際の倫理的葛藤を示す。すなわち、他者の振る舞いを内心では是とせぬときであっても、正当な目的のためには礼を尽くして近づき、言葉と行いにおいて礼節とダルマを保つべきだということである。

Word by Word

• {'upayāja-vacaḥ': 'the words/speech of Upayāja', 'śrutvā': 'having heard', 'yājasya': 'of Yāja', 'āśramam': 'hermitage

• ascetic dwelling', 'abhyagāt': 'went to

• approached', 'abhisampūjya': 'having respectfully worshipped/honored', 'pūjārham': 'worthy of worship

• venerable', 'atha': 'then

• thereafter', 'uvāca ha': 'said (indeed)

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Upayāja
• Yāja
• the King (Drupada, in the surrounding narrative)
• Yāja’s āśrama (hermitage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid inner criticism or doubt, one should uphold dharmic conduct—approaching elders and ritual authorities with proper respect, and letting one’s speech and actions remain disciplined and courteous.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Upayāja advises the king to go to Yāja for the performance of a sacrifice, the king proceeds to Yāja’s hermitage, honors the sage with due worship, and then begins to speak to him about his purpose.