Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 10
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: Abhaya, Anugraha, and the Ethics of Honoring the Worthy (दानश्रेष्ठता: अभय-अनुग्रह-विप्रपूजा)
च्यवन उवाच शृणु सर्वमशेषेण यदिदं येन हेतुना । न हि शक््यमनाख्यातुमेवं पृष्टेन पार्थिव
Cyavana uvāca: śṛṇu sarvam aśeṣeṇa yad idaṁ yena hetunā | na hi śakyam anākhyātum evaṁ pṛṣṭena pārthiva ||
Sinabi ni Cyavana: “O hari, pakinggan mong buo ang buong salaysay—kung ano ito at sa anong dahilan ito ginawa. Sa paraan ng iyong pagtatanong, hindi ko maaaring ipagkait ang paliwanag; hindi ko maaaring iwan ang bagay na ito na hindi nasasabi.”
च्यवन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A moral obligation toward truth and transparency: when a rightful question is asked, especially by a responsible authority, one should not conceal the motive and should give a complete account.
Cyavana begins a full explanation to a king who has questioned him about the reason behind certain actions; he frames his response as unavoidable because the king has asked directly.