Shloka 24
Aṣṭāvakra and the Woman: Disclosure, Permission, and Marital Resolution (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय २२)
आश्चर्य परम हीदं कि नु श्रेयो हि मे भवेत् । दिव्याभरणवत्त्रा हि कन्येयं मामुपस्थिता
āścaryaṁ parama hīdaṁ ki nu śreyo hi me bhavet | divyābharaṇavastrā hi kanyeyaṁ mām upasthitā ||
ອັດຖາວັກຣະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ນີ້ແມ່ນຄວາມອັດສະຈັນຢ່າງສູງສຸດແທ້. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຖາມວ່າ ຈະມີກຸສົນຜົນດີອັນໃດເກີດແກ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈາກນີ້? ເພາະກະທັ້ງກັນຍານີ້—ປະດັບດ້ວຍເຄື່ອງປະດັບແລະເຄື່ອງນຸ່ງຫົ່ມອັນເປັນທິບ—ໄດ້ມາຢືນຢູ່ຕໍ່ໜ້າຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ເພື່ອຮັບໃຊ້».
अष्टावक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical discernment in the face of extraordinary events: even when something appears wondrous and attractive, one should ask whether it truly leads to śreyas (lasting welfare) rather than being merely a tempting marvel.
Aṣṭāvakra expresses astonishment that a maiden, splendidly adorned with divine clothing and jewelry, has appeared and stands before him in service; he reflects cautiously on whether this unexpected occurrence will be beneficial for him.