Shloka 15
Gaṅgā-Tīrtha Darśana and the Prelude to the Yavakrīta–Indra Exemplum (लोमश-युधिष्ठिर संवादः)
अष्टावक्र उवाच अष्टौ शाणा: शतमानं वहन्ति तथाष्टपाद: शरभ: सिंहघाती । अष्टौ वसूज्शुश्रुम देवतासु यूपश्चाष्टस्रिविहित: सर्वयज्ञे,अष्टावक्र बोले--तराजूमें लगी हुई सनकी डोरियाँ भी आठ ही होती हैं, जो सैकड़ोंका मान (तौल) करती हैं। सिंहको भी मार गिरानेवाले शरभके आठ ही पैर होते हैं। देवताओंमें वसुओंकी* संख्या भी आठ ही सुनी गयी है और सम्पूर्ण यज्ञोंमें आठ कोणके ही यूपका निर्माण किया जाता है
aṣṭāvakra uvāca | aṣṭau śāṇāḥ śatamānaṃ vahanti tathāṣṭapādaḥ śarabhaḥ siṃhaghātī | aṣṭau vasūñ śuśruma devatāsu yūpaś cāṣṭāśrī vihitaḥ sarvayajñe ||
Wika ni Aṣṭāvakra: “Kahit ang mga tali na nakakabit sa timbangan ay walo lamang, nagdadala at nagtatakda pa rin ito ng bigat hanggang sandaang sukat. Gayundin, ang śarabha—na sinasabing kayang pabagsakin ang leon—ay may walong paa. Sa mga diyos, narinig din natin na walo ang mga Vasu. At sa bawat paghahandog, ang haliging panghandog (yūpa) ay hinuhubog na may walong sulok. Kaya ang ‘walo’ ay paulit-ulit na nakikitang ganap at mabisa bilang sukat sa kaayusan ng daigdig at ng ritwal.”
अष्टावक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Aṣṭāvakra points to recurring patterns in nature, myth, and ritual to show that certain numbers—here ‘eight’—function as culturally recognized markers of completeness and efficacy. The ethical thrust is to respect established order (dharma) and the inherited wisdom of ritual and tradition, which encode meaning through such patterns.
In a didactic exchange, Aṣṭāvakra cites examples: eight cords on a balance that can weigh large measures, the eight-footed śarabha famed for overpowering a lion, the eight Vasus among the gods, and the octagonal yūpa used in sacrifices. He is building an argument through illustrative parallels drawn from daily life, mythology, and yajña practice.