Shloka 5
कौशिकस्य क्रोधविनिवृत्तिः — Kauśika’s Anger Checked by Householder Dharma
अश्वसहस््र॑ मे भवान् ददात्विति तं सेदुको ब्राह्मणमब्रवीत्,“एक दिन कोई वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्न ब्राह्मण राजा सेदुकके पास आया और उन्हें आशीर्वाद देकर गुरु-दक्षिणाके लिये भिक्षा माँगता हुआ बोला--'राजन्! आप मुझे एक हजार घोड़े दीजिये।” तब सेदुकने उस ब्राह्मण-से कहा--'ब्रह्मनम! आपकी अभीष्ट गुरु- दक्षिणा देना मेरे लिये सम्भव नहीं है
aśvasahasraṃ me bhavān dadātv iti taṃ seduko brāhmaṇam abravīt
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Certa vez, um brāhmaṇa versado no estudo dos Vedas aproximou-se do rei Seduka, abençoou-o e, pedindo esmola como guru-dakṣiṇā, disse: “Ó rei, concede-me mil cavalos.” Ao ouvir tal pedido, Seduka respondeu ao brāhmaṇa que não lhe era possível cumprir a guru-dakṣiṇā desejada.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a dharmic dilemma: honoring a learned brāhmaṇa’s request (framed as guru-dakṣiṇā) versus the ethical necessity of acknowledging one’s real capacity. It points toward responsible generosity—dāna guided by truth and ability, not by empty promises.
A Veda-versed brāhmaṇa comes to King Seduka, blesses him, and asks for a thousand horses as a guru-dakṣiṇā-like gift. Seduka responds that granting such a request is not feasible for him, introducing the conflict that will shape the ensuing episode.