Shloka 15
ययातेर्वानप्रस्थतपःस्वर्गारोहणम् | Yayāti’s Vānaprastha Austerities and Ascent to Heaven
देवयान्युवाच केनास्यर्थेन नृपते इमं देशमुपागत: । जिधघृक्षुर्वारिजं किंचिदथवा मृगलिप्सया,देवयानीने पूछा--महाराज! आप किस कार्यसे वनके इस प्रदेशमें आये हैं? आप जल अथवा कमल लेना चाहते हैं या शिकारकी इच्छासे ही आये हैं?
devayāny uvāca kenāsyārthena nṛpate imaṁ deśam upāgataḥ | jighṛkṣur vārijaṁ kiñcid athavā mṛga-lipsayā ||
ទេវយានីបានមានព្រះបន្ទូលថា៖ «ឱ ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ! ដោយហេតុអ្វីបានជាព្រះអង្គមកដល់តំបន់ព្រៃនេះ? តើព្រះអង្គមកយកទឹក ឬបេះផ្កាឈូកបន្តិចមួយ ឬមកដោយចិត្តចង់ប្រមាញ់?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical importance of intention: before judging an action (entering the forest), one should ask its purpose—whether it is a harmless need (water/lotus) or a potentially harmful impulse (hunting).
Devayānī addresses a king who has arrived in a forest region and asks why he has come—whether to collect water or lotus, or to hunt—setting up the circumstances for their ensuing interaction.