Shloka 18
विरेचन उवाच हिरण्यं च गवाश्चृं च यद् वित्तमसुरेषु न: । सुधन्वन् विपणे तेन प्रश्न॑ पृच्छाव ये विदु:,विरोचन बोला--सुधन्वन्! हम असुरोंके पास जो कुछ भी सोना, गौ, घोड़ा आदि धन है, उसकी मैं बाजी लगाता हूँ; हम-तुम दोनों चलकर जो इस विषयके जानकार हों, उनसे पूछें कि हम दोनोंमें कौन श्रेष्ठ है?
virocana uvāca hiraṇyaṃ ca gavāś ca aśvān ca yad vittam asureṣu naḥ | sudhanvan vipaṇe tena praśnaṃ pṛcchāva ye viduḥ ||
ବିରୋଚନ କହିଲା—ସୁଧନ୍ୱନ୍! ଆମ ଅସୁରମାନଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ଯେତେ ଧନ ଅଛି—ସୁନା, ଗାଈ, ଘୋଡ଼ା ଇତ୍ୟାଦି—ସବୁକୁ ମୁଁ ପଣ ରଖୁଛି। ଆସ, ଆମେ ଦୁଇଜଣ ଯେମାନେ ଏହି ବିଷୟ ଭଲଭାବେ ଜାଣନ୍ତି, ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ପଚାରିବା: ଆମ ଦୁଇଜଣ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ କିଏ?
विरेचन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how disputes about superiority should be settled by appealing to genuine knowledge rather than mere assertion—yet it also exposes the ethical tension of staking material wealth and pride on questions that ideally require humility and discernment.
Virocana challenges Sudhanvan by proposing a wager of substantial Asura wealth (gold, cattle, horses). He urges that they approach competent authorities—those who truly know—to ask and determine which of the two is superior.