Shloka 27
Uttanka’s Guru-Śuśrūṣā and the Commission to Retrieve the Maṇikuṇḍalas (उत्तङ्क-गुरुशुश्रूषा तथा मणिकुण्डल-आदेशः)
मया त्वदर्थमुक्तो वै वज्पाणि: पुरंदर:,'भुगुनन्दन! मैंने आपके लिये वज्रधारी इन्द्रसे जाकर कहा था कि तुम उत्तंक मुनिको जलके रूपमें अमृत प्रदान करो। मेरी बात सुनकर प्रभावशाली देवेन्द्रने बारम्बार मुझसे कहा कि “मनुष्य अमर नहीं हो सकता। इसलिये आप उन्हें अमृत न देकर और कोई वर दीजिये।” परंतु मैंने शचीपति इन्द्रसे जोर देकर कहा कि उत्तड़कको तो अमृत ही देना है
mayā tvadartham ukto vai vajrapāṇiḥ purandaraḥ | bhṛgunandana! mayā tava kṛte vajradhariṇam indram upetya proktaṃ—tvaṃ uttankaṃ munim amṛtarūpeṇa jalaṃ pradāsyasi | mama vacanaṃ śrutvā prabhāvavān devendraḥ punar punar mām uvāca—‘manuṣyo’ maraṇadharmā; tasmād amṛtaṃ mā pradāḥ, anyo varaḥ pradīyatām’ iti | ahaṃ tu śacīpatiṃ indraṃ balavad avadam—‘uttankāya amṛtam eva dātavyam’ iti |
Uttaḍuka disse: “Por tua causa fui falar com Purandara, Indra, o portador do vajra. Ó descendente de Bhṛgu, eu disse ao que empunha o raio: ‘Concede ao sábio Uttanka o amṛta, o néctar da imortalidade, na forma de água.’ Ao ouvir meu pedido, o poderoso Devendra respondeu-me repetidas vezes: ‘Um homem não pode tornar-se sem morte; portanto não lhe dês amṛta—concede-lhe outro dom.’ Mas eu pressionei com firmeza Indra, senhor de Śacī, insistindo: ‘Uttanka deve receber apenas amṛta.’”
उत्तडुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even divine power is portrayed as operating within limits: Indra asserts that humans cannot be made immortal, suggesting a cosmic boundary on boons. The passage also highlights steadfast advocacy—Uttaduka insists on what he believes is right for Uttanka, illustrating resolve and loyalty in seeking a promised good.
Uttaduka reports that he approached Indra on someone’s behalf and requested that Indra grant the sage Uttanka amṛta in the form of water. Indra repeatedly refuses, offering an alternative boon because humans are not meant to be deathless. Uttaduka, however, continues to press Indra, insisting that amṛta alone should be given to Uttanka.