Shloka 96
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
अत: आप जाज्ञा दें; मैं गुरुदक्षिणाके रूपमें कौन-सी वस्तु ला दूँ।” सैवमुक्तोपाध्यायानी तमुत्तड़्कं प्रत्युवाच गच्छ पौष्यं प्रति राजानं कुण्डले भिक्षितुं तस्य क्षत्रियया पिनद्धे
ataḥ āp ājñā deṃ; maiṃ gurudakṣiṇāke rūpameṃ kauna-sī vastu lā dūṃ.” saivam uktopādhyāyānī tam uttankaṃ pratyuvāca: gaccha pauṣyaṃ prati rājānaṃ kuṇḍale bhikṣituṃ tasya kṣatriyayā pinaddhe.
“Kaya ipag-utos po ninyo: anong bagay ang dadalhin ko bilang guru-dakṣiṇā?” Nang masabi ito ni Uttanka, sumagot ang asawa ng guro: “Pumaroon ka kay Haring Pauṣya at hingin mo ang pares ng hikaw na nakasabit sa kanyang reynang Kṣatriya.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights gurudakṣiṇā as a moral test of a student’s commitment: true learning is completed by disciplined service, respectful obedience, and the willingness to undertake a difficult task without compromising dharma.
Uttanka asks what he should bring as gurudakṣiṇā. The preceptor’s wife instructs him to go to King Pauṣya and request the earrings worn by the king’s queen, setting Uttanka on a challenging errand.