Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 10
Kṛṣṇasya Dvārakā-praveśaḥ — Krishna’s Return to Dvārakā and the Raivataka Festival
उत्तड्ुक उवाच राजंस्तथेह कर्तास्मि पुनरेष्यामि ते वशम् | प्रश्न॑ च कंचित् प्रष्टूं त्वां निवृत्तोडस्मि परंतप
Uttaṅka uvāca: rājan tatheha kartāsmi punar eṣyāmi te vaśam | praśnaṃ ca kañcit praṣṭuṃ tvāṃ nivṛtto ’smi paraṃtapa ||
Sinabi ni Uttaṅka: “O hari, tagasunog ng mga kaaway, gayon ang gagawin ko rito; tutuparin ko ang dapat gawin at saka muling babalik sa ilalim ng iyong kapangyarihan. Ngunit sa sandaling ito, O tagapagpahirap sa mga kaaway, nagbalik ako sa iyo upang magtanong ng isang bagay.”
उत्तड्ुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic integrity: one should keep one’s pledged duty (pratijñā) and respect rightful authority, while also valuing timely inquiry—asking necessary questions before proceeding further.
Uttaṅka addresses the king, affirming he will carry out his commitment and later return under the king’s authority, but he has come back briefly because he needs to ask an important question first.