Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 15

Uttaṅka’s Petition for Madayantī’s Divine Earrings (Maṇikuṇḍala) — Agreement, Proof, and Vigilance

Devanagari script

उत्तडुक उवाच भवद्गतेन मनसा भवत्प्रियचिकीर्षया । भवद्धक्तिगतेनेह भवद्धावानुगेन च

Transliteration

uttaḍuka uvāca: bhavad-gatena manasā bhavat-priya-cikīrṣayā | bhavad-bhakti-gateneha bhavad-dhāvānugena ca ||

Translation

Wika ni Uttaḍuka: “Gurudev! Ang aking isip ay laging nakatuon sa inyo, at sa hangaring gawin ang nakalulugod sa inyo. Tanging sa inyo ang aking debosyon kaya nanatili ako rito sa paglilingkod, sumusunod sa inyo na may matatag na pagkapit ng loob. Dahil lubos akong nalubog sa aking bhakti sa inyo, hindi ko hinanap ang mga ligayang makamundo, ni hindi ko man napansin ang pagdating ng katandaan. Kahit isang daang taon na ang lumipas habang ako’y naninirahan dito, hindi pa rin ninyo ako binibigyan ng pahintulot na makauwi.”

Word by Word

• उत्तङ्कः: Uttaṅka
• उत्तङ्कः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तङ्क
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• भवत्-गतेन: with (a mind) gone to you / fixed on you
• भवत्-गतेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भवत्-गत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भवत्-प्रिय-चिकीर्षया: with the desire to do what is pleasing to you
• भवत्-प्रिय-चिकीर्षया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत्-प्रिय-चिकीर्षा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• भवत्-भक्ति-गतेन: with (a mind) absorbed in devotion to you
• भवत्-भक्ति-गतेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भवत्-भक्ति-गत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• भवत्-भाव-अनुगेन: following your disposition/intent; in accordance with your will
• भवत्-भाव-अनुगेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भवत्-भाव-अनुग
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

उत्तडुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Uttaḍuka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Single-pointed devotion expressed as sustained service: the speaker claims that dedication to the revered person (guru/elder) can eclipse worldly pleasures and even the awareness of time and aging, but also implies an ethical need for proper closure—permission to return home after fulfilling service.

What is happening in the narrative?

Uttaḍuka addresses his superior, explaining that he has spent a very long time (said to be a hundred years) serving with unwavering devotion and without seeking worldly comforts, and he laments that he has not yet been granted leave to go back home.