Adhyāya 352: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Saṃvāda — Uñchavrata-niścaya
Dialogue and the Resolve to Practice Uñchavrata
पितामह उवाच स्वागतं ते महाबाहो दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोडसि मेडन्तिकम् | कच्चित् ते कुशल पुत्र स्वाध्यायतपसो: सदा,ब्रह्माजी बोले--महाबाहो! तुम्हारा स्वागत है। सौभाग्यसे मेरे निकट आये हो। बेटा! तुम्हारा स्वाध्याय और तप सदा सकुशल चल रहा है न? तुम सर्वदा कठोर तपस्यामें ही लगे रहते हो; इसलिये मैं तुमसे बारंबार तपके विषयमें पूछता हूँ
pitāmaha uvāca: svāgataṁ te mahābāho diṣṭyā prāpto 'si medāntikam | kaccit te kuśala putra svādhyāya-tapasoḥ sadā ||
पितामह उवाच—स्वागतं ते महाबाहो; दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मेऽन्तिकम्। कच्चित् ते कुशलं पुत्र स्वाध्यायतपसोः सदा॥
पितामह उवाच
The verse foregrounds a dharmic ideal: sustained inner cultivation through svādhyāya (scriptural study) and tapas (austerity). The elder’s repeated inquiry reflects that spiritual discipline is not episodic but must be maintained steadily, and that genuine welfare is measured by the health of one’s ethical and contemplative practice.
A revered elder (Pitāmaha) receives a heroic visitor at a place called Medāntika, offers a formal welcome, and then asks after the visitor’s well-being—specifically whether his ongoing study of sacred knowledge and ascetic practice are proceeding successfully.