Shloka 10
Paurava-vaṃśa-kathana (Account of the Paurava Lineage) | महाभारत आदि पर्व अध्याय ८९
नचापि त्वां धृष्णुम: प्रष्टमग्रे न च त्वमस्मान् पृच्छसि ये वयं सम: । तत् त्वां पृच्छामि स्पृहणीयरूप कस्य त्वं वा किंनिमित्तं त्वमागा:
na cāpi tvāṃ dhṛṣṇumaḥ praṣṭum agre na ca tvam asmān pṛcchasi ye vayaṃ samaḥ | tat tvāṃ pṛcchāmi spṛhaṇīyarūpa kasya tvaṃ vā kiṃnimittaṃ tvam āgāḥ ||
我らは先に問う勇気がなく、汝もまた我らが誰かを問わぬ——礼においては互いに等しくここに立つというのに。ゆえに我が問う。ああ、慕わしき姿の大丈夫よ、汝は誰が子か。何のためにここへ来たのか。
अट्क उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights social dharma in conversation: restraint and courtesy in questioning a stranger, and the propriety of establishing identity and purpose through respectful inquiry rather than presumptive interrogation.
Aṭka addresses an impressive newcomer. Since neither side has initiated introductions—Aṭka’s party hesitating to ask first and the stranger not asking them—Aṭka formally asks the visitor’s parentage and the reason for his arrival.