वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं स्तुतस्तदा तेन मन्दपालेन पावक:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca—evaṁ stutas tadā tena Mandapālena Pāvakaḥ; prasannaḥ sa mahātejā ṛṣim abhyabhāṣata—“kiṁ te ’bhīṣṭaṁ karavāṇi?”
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang panahong iyon, nang mapuri nang gayon ng pantas na si Mandapāla, si Pāvaka (Agni), na nagliliwanag sa di-masukat na ningning, ay labis na nalugod. Sa masayang kalooban ay nagsalita siya sa rishi: “Anong ninanais mong layunin ang aking tutuparin?”
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.