Shloka 11
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
तपस्विनो महात्मानो वेदप्रत्ययदर्शिन: । उदीर्यमाणं राजानं क्रोधदीप्ता द्विजातय:
tapasvino mahātmāno vedapratyayadarśinaḥ | udīryamāṇaṃ rājānaṃ krodhadīptā dvijātayaḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。苦行に身を置く大心の二度生まれの賢者たち、すなわちヴェーダの確かな理を直観する者たちは、王がなおも迫り続けるのを見て怒りに燃えた。制止されてもなお問いを重ねるその執拗さに、彼らは憤然として立ち上がり、言葉を発しようとした――謙虚な求道の問いと、驕りから生じる挑発との境界を示すために。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical limit: inquiry should be guided by humility and receptivity. When a ruler’s questioning becomes insistence fueled by pride, even patient sages—grounded in Vedic certainty—may respond with righteous anger to reassert dharma and proper conduct.
A king continues to press questions repeatedly; the ascetic Brahmin seers, who understand Vedic principles, become angered at his persistent, agitated manner and are about to speak to him in response.