Shloka 5
Aṣṭāvakra–Bandi Vāda at Janaka’s Assembly
Numerical Cosmology and Restitution
दारपाल उवाच बन्दे: समादेशकरा वयं सम निबोध वाक््यं च मये्यमाणम् | न वै बाला: प्रविशन्त्यत्र विप्रा वृद्धा विदग्धा: प्रविशन्त्यत्र विप्रा:
dārapāla uvāca | bandeḥ samādeśakarā vayaṃ sama nibodha vākyaṃ ca maye yamāṇam | na vai bālāḥ praviśanty atra viprā vṛddhā vidagdhāḥ praviśanty atra viprāḥ ||
門番は言った。「我らは命を受けてそれを遂行する僕にすぎぬ。ゆえに、私が伝えるべき言葉をよく聞け。若き婆羅門はここへ入ることを許されぬ。入れるのは、年長にして学徳を成し遂げた婆羅門のみである。」
दारपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adherence to established rules and the idea that access to certain spaces or audiences is regulated by qualification—here framed as maturity and learning—while the gatekeeper emphasizes duty-bound obedience to orders.
A gatekeeper addresses someone seeking entry and relays the standing instruction: young brāhmaṇas are not admitted, whereas senior and accomplished brāhmaṇas may enter.