Shloka 14
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
ततः संवत्सरस्यान्ते द्रुपदं स द्विजोत्तम: । उपयाजोडब्रवीत् काले राजन् मधुरया गिरा
tataḥ saṃvatsarasyānte drupadaṃ sa dvijottamaḥ | upayājo ’bravīt kāle rājan madhurayā girā ||
ನಂತರ ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷದ ಅಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ದ್ವಿಜೋತ್ತಮನಾದ ಉಪಯಾಜನು ಯೋಗ್ಯ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಧುರ ವಾಣಿಯಿಂದ ದ್ರುಪದನಿಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದನು—“ರಾಜನೇ!”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma through two linked ideals: (1) speaking at the right time with gentle, respectful words, and (2) careful discernment about purity and the ethical acceptability of food or offerings whose source is uncertain.
After a year, Upayāja approaches King Drupada and begins a narrative involving his elder brother Yāja, introducing an incident from the forest about taking a fallen fruit from an unknown (possibly impure) place—setting up a discussion relevant to conduct and ritual propriety.