Shloka 21
किमागमनकृत्यं ते कि कुर्म:ः शासनं तव । आज्ञाप्या हि वयं सर्वे तव पुत्रास्तपोधने
kim āgamanakṛtyaṃ te kiṃ kurmaḥ śāsanaṃ tava | ājñāpyā hi vayaṃ sarve tava putrās tapodhane ||
“Que serviço de acolhida devemos prestar-te? Que ordem tua devemos cumprir? Pois todos nós devemos ser dirigidos por ti—somos teus filhos, ó tesouro de poder ascético.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharmic conduct through humility, proper hospitality toward a revered ascetic, and readiness to follow righteous instruction—framing obedience as a voluntary ethical commitment rather than mere submission.
Nārada speaks on behalf of a group, addressing a powerful ascetic as their spiritual superior, asking what reception-rites should be performed and what orders they should execute, declaring themselves as his ‘sons’—i.e., dependents or disciples under his guidance.