Shloka 98
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स॒ एवमुक्तस्तया प्रातिष्ठतोत्तड़ुक: स पथि गच्छन्नपश्यदृषभमतिप्रमाणं तमधिरूढं च पुरुषमतिप्रमाणमेव स पुरुष उत्तड़कमभ्यभाषत,गुरुपत्नीके ऐसा कहनेपर उत्तंक वहाँसे चल दिये। मार्गमें जाते समय उन्होंने एक बहुत बड़े बैलको और उसपर चढ़े हुए एक विशालकाय पुरुषको भी देखा। उस पुरुषने उत्तंकसे कहा--
sa evam uktas tayā prātiṣṭhatottaḍukaḥ | sa pathi gacchann apaśyad ṛṣabham atipramāṇaṃ tam adhirūḍhaṃ ca puruṣam atipramāṇam eva | sa puruṣa uttaḍukam abhyabhāṣata |
Nang masabihan siya nang gayon, umalis si Uttaṅka. Habang naglalakbay sa daan, nakita niya ang isang torong di-karaniwang napakalaki, at sa ibabaw nito ay isang lalaking kasinglaki rin at napakatangkad. Ang lalaking iyon ay nagsalita kay Uttaṅka—na siyang nagpasiklab sa susunod na pagliko ng mga pangyayari at sumubok sa pag-unawa at tatag ng manlalakbay sa pagtupad ng kanyang tungkulin.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights steadfastness in one’s assigned duty: once instructed by an authority figure (here, the guru’s wife), the disciple proceeds without delay, and the journey immediately presents a significant encounter—suggesting that dharma is often tested through unexpected situations requiring discernment and composure.
Uttaṅka departs after being addressed by the guru’s wife. On the road he sees a gigantic bull with an equally gigantic man mounted on it. The mounted man then speaks to Uttaṅka, introducing the next episode of the Uttanka narrative.