Shloka 6
उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानम् — Maṇi-Kuṇḍala Retrieval and Entry into Nāgaloka
Chapter 57
उत्तड्ुक उवाच एवमस्तु महाराज समय: क्रियतां तु मे । गुर्वर्थमभिनिर्वर्त्य पुनरेष्यामि ते वशम्
uttaṅka uvāca evam astu mahārāja samayaḥ kriyatāṁ tu me | gurvartham abhinirvartya punar eṣyāmi te vaśam ||
ਉੱਤੰਕ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—“ਮਹਾਰਾਜ, ਐਸਾ ਹੀ ਹੋਵੇ; ਪਰ ਮੇਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਇੱਕ ਸ਼ਰਤ ਪੱਕੀ ਕਰ ਲਵੋ। ਮੈਂ ਗੁਰੂ-ਕਾਰਜ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਗੁਰੂ-ਦਕਸ਼ਿਣਾ ਅਦਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਮੁੜ ਆਵਾਂਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਵਾਂਗਾ।”
उत्तड्ुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma through fidelity to one’s obligations: Uttaṅka prioritizes completing his guru’s purpose (including guru-dakṣiṇā) while also honoring a social-political commitment by returning afterward. Ethical action is framed as keeping agreements without abandoning higher duties.
Uttaṅka accepts the king’s proposal in principle but sets a condition: he must first finish the task connected to his teacher and settle the teacher’s due. Only after fulfilling that responsibility will he return and submit again to the king’s authority.