Shloka 7
Vetasa-Nīti: The Reed and the Flood (वेतस-नीति)
तत्र प्राह नदी गंगा वाक्यमुत्तममर्थवत् | हेतुमद् ग्राहकं चैव सागरं सरिताम्पतिम्
tatra prāha nadī gaṅgā vākyam uttamam arthavat | hetumat grāhakaṃ caiva sāgaraṃ saritāṃ patim ||
ਤਦੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ ਹੋਣ ਉਪਰੰਤ ਗੰਗਾ ਨਦੀ ਨੇ ਸਰਿਤਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਵਾਮੀ ਸਾਗਰ ਨੂੰ ਉੱਤਮ, ਅਰਥਪੂਰਨ, ਹੇਤੁਯੁਕਤ ਅਤੇ ਮਨ ਨੂੰ ਗ੍ਰਹਿਣ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਬਚਨ ਕਹੇ।
सागर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ideal of speech that is both meaningful and reason-based (arthavat, hetumat), and also persuasive (grāhakam). Ethically, it implies that guidance and correction should be offered through well-grounded, intelligible reasoning rather than mere authority or anger.
After a question or challenge has been raised, Gaṅgā addresses the ocean, described as the lord of rivers. This verse functions as a transition, introducing that Gaṅgā’s forthcoming reply will be excellent, substantial, and logically argued.