Shloka 54
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स॒ उपाध्यायवचनं श्रु॒त्वा प्रत्युवाचोच्चैरयमस्मिन्ू कूपे पतितो5हमिति तमुपाध्याय: प्रत्युवाच कथ॑ं त्वमस्मिन् कूपे पतित इति,उसने उपाध्यायकी बात सुनकर उच्च स्वरसे उत्तर दिया--“गुरुजी! मैं कुएँमें गिर पड़ा हूँ।' तब उपाध्यायने उससे पूछा--“वत्स! तुम कुएँमें कैसे गिर गये?”
sa upādhyāya-vacanaṃ śrutvā pratyuvācoccair ayam asmin kūpe patito 'ham iti | tam upādhyāyaḥ pratyuvāca kathaṃ tvam asmin kūpe patita iti |
Nang marinig ang mga salita ng guro, sumagot siya nang malakas, “Guro, nahulog po ako sa balong ito.” At tinanong siya ng guro, “Anak, paano ka nahulog sa balong ito?”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models ethical inquiry: after acknowledging a problem truthfully, one should investigate its cause. The teacher’s question reflects responsible guidance—understanding circumstances before judging or acting.
A student (or speaker) calls out that he has fallen into a well. The teacher responds immediately by asking how it happened, initiating a cause-and-context discussion.