वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं स्तुतस्तदा तेन मन्दपालेन पावक:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca—evaṁ stutas tadā tena Mandapālena Pāvakaḥ; prasannaḥ sa mahātejā ṛṣim abhyabhāṣata—“kiṁ te ’bhīṣṭaṁ karavāṇi?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच—एवं स्तुतस्तदा तेन मन्दपालेन पावकः । तुतोष मुनिममिततेजसं प्रीतात्मा चेदमब्रवीत्—किमिष्टं करवाणि ते ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Sincere praise and disciplined speech (stuti) can invite divine favor, but the implied ethical boundary is that the boon should be sought for a rightful purpose (dharma-aligned intent), not mere self-indulgence.
After Mandapāla praises Agni (Pāvaka), Agni becomes pleased and offers to fulfill Mandapāla’s desired objective, asking what he wishes to be accomplished.