Mahabharata — Udyoga Parva, Shloka 18
दक्षिणा-दिक्, पितृपक्ष-प्रतिष्ठा, तथा कर्मगतिः — Suparṇa’s Cosmographic Instruction
प्रियं कार्य हि मे तस्य यस्यास्मि वचने स्थित: । ब्रूहि गालव यास्यामि शृणु चाप्यपरां दिशम्
priyaṃ kāryaṃ hi me tasya yasyāsmi vacane sthitaḥ | brūhi gālava yāsyāmi śṛṇu cāpyaparāṃ diśam ||
Dapat kong tuparin ang bagay na kinalulugdan Niya na sinusunod ko ang utos. Kaya, O Gālava, sabihin mo: tutungo ba ako sa silangan? Isalaysay mo rin ang iba pang direksiyon, upang marinig ko at makapili nang wasto.
युपर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharmic resolve: one should carry out the duty that pleases the rightful authority one has accepted, and seek clear guidance before acting so that the chosen course aligns with that obligation.
Yūparṇa addresses Gālava, stating that he is bound to fulfill a task pleasing to the divine authority he serves (identified here as Viṣṇu), and asks which direction he should travel—east or another—requesting guidance before setting out.