Shloka 18
Uttanka’s Guru-Śuśrūṣā and the Commission to Retrieve the Maṇikuṇḍalas (उत्तङ्क-गुरुशुश्रूषा तथा मणिकुण्डल-आदेशः)
स्मरन्नेव च तं प्राह मातज्भरः प्रहसन्निव । एह्ुत्तड़क प्रतीच्छस्व मत्तो वारि भूगूद्वह
smarann eva ca taṃ prāha mātajbharaḥ prahasann iva | ehy uttaṅka pratīcchasva matto vāri bhṛgūdvaha ||
Mengingatinya, si pembawa air itu berkata seolah-olah tertawa besar: “Marilah, wahai Uttaṅka, yang terbaik dari keturunan Bhṛgu—terimalah air daripadaku.” Melihat Uttaṅka diseksa dahaga, dia mengaku berbelas kasihan; namun walaupun Caṇḍāla itu menawarkan, sang resi tidak menyambut air itu dan enggan menerimanya.
उत्तडुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a dharmic dilemma: compassion and the urgent need to relieve suffering (thirst) stand against socially conditioned notions of purity. The refusal of offered water becomes a narrative device to question whether external purity rules should override humane duty and discernment.
A water-bearer identified as a Caṇḍāla calls out to Uttaṅka, addresses him respectfully as ‘best of the Bhṛgus,’ and offers him water, claiming pity at his thirst. Uttaṅka, however, does not accept or honor the offer and refuses the water.