Shloka 18
Uttanka’s Guru-Śuśrūṣā and the Commission to Retrieve the Maṇikuṇḍalas (उत्तङ्क-गुरुशुश्रूषा तथा मणिकुण्डल-आदेशः)
स्मरन्नेव च तं प्राह मातज्भरः प्रहसन्निव । एह्ुत्तड़क प्रतीच्छस्व मत्तो वारि भूगूद्वह
smarann eva ca taṃ prāha mātajbharaḥ prahasann iva | ehy uttaṅka pratīcchasva matto vāri bhṛgūdvaha ||
Nang maalala siya, nagsalita ang tagapagdala ng tubig na wari’y malakas na tumatawa: “Halika, O Uttaṅka, pinakamainam sa angkan ni Bhṛgu—tanggapin mo ang tubig mula sa akin.” Nakita niyang pinahihirapan si Uttaṅka ng uhaw at nagkunwaring may habag; subalit kahit inalok ng Caṇḍāla, hindi tinanggap ng pantas ang tubig at tumangging kunin ito.
उत्तडुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a dharmic dilemma: compassion and the urgent need to relieve suffering (thirst) stand against socially conditioned notions of purity. The refusal of offered water becomes a narrative device to question whether external purity rules should override humane duty and discernment.
A water-bearer identified as a Caṇḍāla calls out to Uttaṅka, addresses him respectfully as ‘best of the Bhṛgus,’ and offers him water, claiming pity at his thirst. Uttaṅka, however, does not accept or honor the offer and refuses the water.