Shloka 3
Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)
चिरात्तु नानुपश्यामि भगवन्तमुपस्थितम् । कच्चित् ते कुशल विप्र शुभं वा प्रत्युपस्थितम्
cirāt tu nānupaśyāmi bhagavantam upasthitam | kaccit te kuśala vipra śubhaṃ vā pratyupasthitam ||
“ਭਗਵਨ! ਬਹੁਤ ਚਿਰ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਇੱਥੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਵੇਖੀ। ਹੇ ਵਿਪ੍ਰ! ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੁਸ਼ਲ ਤਾਂ ਹੋ? ਜਾਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਕੋਈ ਸ਼ੁਭ ਵਾਰਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dhārmic speech: respectful address to a learned person and a compassionate inquiry into their welfare (kuśala) and auspicious circumstances (śubha). It reflects the ethical priority of attentiveness, courtesy, and concern for others.
The narrator reports a speaker noticing that a revered brāhmaṇa/holy person has not been seen for a long time and, upon encountering him, asks whether he is safe and well, or whether something auspicious has occurred.