Shloka 18
Adhyāya 122 — Śruta-vṛtta-yukta Brāhmaṇa and the Ethics of Dāna
Maitreya–Vyāsa Saṃvāda
नमस्ते<स्तु महाप्राज्ञ कि करोमि प्रशाधि माम् । त्वत्तपोबलनिर्दिष्टमिदं हृधिगतं मया,महाप्राज्ञ) आपको नमस्कार है, मुझे आज्ञा दीजिये, मैं आपकी क्या सेवा करूँ; आपके तपोबलसे ही मुझे राजपद प्राप्त हुआ है
namas te 'stu mahāprājña kiṁ karomi praśādhi mām | tvat-tapo-bala-nirdiṣṭam idaṁ hṛdi-gataṁ mayā ||
その虫は言った。「大いなる叡智の御方よ、あなたに礼拝いたします。どうかお命じください――私はいかなる奉仕をなすべきでしょうか。あなたの苦行の力によって、私はこの王の位に至りました。この真実は我が心に堅く定まっております。」
कीट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights humility and gratitude: worldly status (even kingship) is portrayed as dependent on spiritual merit and the power of tapas, and the proper response is reverent service and willingness to be guided by wisdom.
An insect, now elevated to a royal position, addresses a greatly wise figure with reverence, acknowledges that this rise came through the sage’s ascetic power, and asks for instructions on how to serve.