Shloka 31
Uttaṅka’s Petition for Madayantī’s Divine Earrings (Maṇikuṇḍala) — Agreement, Proof, and Vigilance
स जगाम ततः: शीघ्रमुत्तड़को ब्राह्मणर्षभ: । सौदासं पुरुषादं वै भिक्षितुं मणिकुण्डले
sa jagāma tataḥ śīghram uttaṅko brāhmaṇarṣabhaḥ | saudāsaṃ puruṣādaṃ vai bhikṣituṃ maṇikuṇḍale ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Pagkaraan nito, ang dakilang brahman na si Uttanka ay nagmadaling umalis mula roon, upang hingin kay Haring Saudāsa—na ngayo’y naging kumakain ng tao—ang pares ng hikaw na may hiyas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness in dharma: a righteous person pursues a vowed duty without hesitation, even when the path leads into danger or contact with morally fallen power.
Uttanka, described as a foremost brāhmaṇa, quickly goes to King Saudāsa—depicted as a man-eater—to request the jewel earrings (maṇikuṇḍale), setting up a confrontation between ascetic purpose and a king’s degraded condition.