न तु पादतले लिप्ते कस्मात्ते पुत्रकाद्य वै । नैतन्मे प्रियमित्येवं स मां प्रीतो5ब्रवीत् तदा
na tu pādatale lipte kasmāt te putrakādya vai | naitan me priyam ity evaṁ sa māṁ prīto 'bravīt tadā ||
Vāyu berkata: “Namun ketika tapak kakimu telah tersapu dan berlumur, mengapa engkau menyapaku sebagai ‘anakku’ dan seumpamanya? Dengan berkata, ‘Ini tidak menyenangkan hatiku,’ maka pada saat itu ia pun berbicara kepadaku dengan penuh kasih.”
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse highlights ethical sensitivity in address and conduct: even affectionate speech (‘my son’) is questioned when circumstances suggest impropriety or displeasure. It underscores that dharmic communication depends on context—purity, appropriateness, and the other person’s consent/pleasure.
Vāyu recounts a moment of dialogue: he questions why he was addressed with endearments when the other’s feet-soles were smeared, and notes that the other person explicitly said the situation was not pleasing, yet then spoke to Vāyu affectionately.