Shloka 10
प्रतीप–गङ्गा संवादः तथा शंतनु–गङ्गा विवाहशर्तिः
Pratīpa and Gaṅgā; Śaṃtanu’s marriage condition
अद्टक उवाच कथंस्विद् वसतो<रण्ये ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः । ग्रामे वा वसतो5रण्यं कथं भवति पृष्ठतः,अष्टकने पूछा--अरण्यमें निवास करनेवालेके लिये ग्राम और ग्राममें निवास करनेवालेके लिये अरण्य पीछे कैसे है?
Aṣṭaka uvāca: kathaṃ svid vasato ’raṇye grāmo bhavati pṛṣṭhataḥ | grāme vā vasato ’raṇyaṃ kathaṃ bhavati pṛṣṭhataḥ ||
అష్టకుడు అడిగాడు—“అరణ్యంలో నివసించేవాడికి గ్రామం ‘వెనుక’ ఎలా అవుతుంది? గ్రామంలో నివసించేవాడికి అరణ్యం ‘వెనుక’ ఎలా అవుతుంది?”
अद्टक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse probes the idea that ‘behind’ can signify what one has relinquished or deprioritized: the forest-dweller leaves social life behind, while the village-dweller leaves solitude/renunciation behind—highlighting how one’s chosen dharma shapes one’s orientation and attachments.
Aṣṭaka poses a pointed question to clarify a prior statement or riddle-like teaching: he asks how the village can be ‘behind’ for a forest resident and how the forest can be ‘behind’ for a village resident, seeking the intended philosophical sense rather than mere geography.