Shloka 68
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स्तोतुं न शकनोमि गुणैर्भवन्तौ चक्षुविहीन: पथि सम्प्रमोह: । दुर्गेडहहमस्मिन् पतितो5स्मि कूपे युवां शरण्यौ शरणं प्रपद्ये,अश्विनीकुमारो! मैं आपके गुणोंका बखान करके आप दोनोंकी स्तुति नहीं कर सकता। इस समय नेत्रहीन (अन्धा) हो गया हूँ। रास्ता पहचाननेमें भी भूल हो जाती है; इसीलिये इस दुर्गम कूपमें गिर पड़ा हूँ। आप दोनों शरणागतवत्सल देवता हैं; अतः मैं आपकी शरण लेता हूँ
stotuṁ na śaknomi guṇair bhavantau cakṣu-vihīnaḥ pathi sampramohaḥ | durge 'ham asmin patito 'smi kūpe yuvāṁ śaraṇyau śaraṇaṁ prapadye, aśvinī-kumārau ||
Rama disse: “Não sou capaz de louvar-vos a ambos como convém, ainda que eu enumere as vossas virtudes. Neste momento tornei-me como alguém sem visão e perco-me no caminho; por isso caí neste poço de difícil escape. Vós dois sois protetores dos que buscam refúgio — assim, ó Aśvinīkumāras, a vós me entrego em busca de abrigo.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models humility and surrender: when one’s own capacity fails (symbolized by blindness and confusion), the ethical response is to seek rightful refuge in benevolent protectors rather than persist in pride or despair.
Rama, disoriented as if blind and having fallen into a difficult well, addresses the twin gods Aśvinīkumāras, confessing his inability to praise them adequately and formally taking refuge in them for rescue.