Shloka 10
Paurava-vaṃśa-kathana (Account of the Paurava Lineage) | महाभारत आदि पर्व अध्याय ८९
नचापि त्वां धृष्णुम: प्रष्टमग्रे न च त्वमस्मान् पृच्छसि ये वयं सम: । तत् त्वां पृच्छामि स्पृहणीयरूप कस्य त्वं वा किंनिमित्तं त्वमागा:,हम पहले तुमसे कुछ पूछनेका साहस नहीं कर सकते और तुम भी हमसे हमारा परिचय नहीं पूछते हो; कि हम कौन हैं? इसलिये मैं ही तुमसे पूछता हूँ। मनोरम रूपवाले महापुरुष! तुम किसके पुत्र हो? और किसलिये यहाँ आये हो?
na cāpi tvāṃ dhṛṣṇumaḥ praṣṭum agre na ca tvam asmān pṛcchasi ye vayaṃ samaḥ | tat tvāṃ pṛcchāmi spṛhaṇīyarūpa kasya tvaṃ vā kiṃnimittaṃ tvam āgāḥ ||
Não ousamos interrogar-te primeiro, nem tu nos perguntas quem somos, embora aqui estejamos com igual cortesia. Por isso eu te pergunto: ó homem de forma admirável, de quem és filho e com que propósito vieste aqui?
अट्क उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights social dharma in conversation: restraint and courtesy in questioning a stranger, and the propriety of establishing identity and purpose through respectful inquiry rather than presumptive interrogation.
Aṭka addresses an impressive newcomer. Since neither side has initiated introductions—Aṭka’s party hesitating to ask first and the stranger not asking them—Aṭka formally asks the visitor’s parentage and the reason for his arrival.