Shloka 2
उत्तरोपदेशः
Uttara’s Fear and Arjuna’s Martial Reassertion
नैवंविधं मया मुक्तमालब्धुं क्षत्रयोनिना । महता राजपुत्रेण मन्त्रयज्ञविदा सता,एक तो मैं क्षत्रिय, दूसरे महान् राजकुमार तथा तीसरे मन्त्र और यज्ञोंका ज्ञाता एवं सत्पुरुष हूँ, अतः मुझे ऐसी अपवित्र वस्तुका स्पर्श करना उचित नहीं है
naivaṃvidhaṃ mayā muktam ālabdhuṃ kṣatrayoninā | mahatā rājaputreṇa mantrayajñavidā satā ||
Sinabi ni Uttara: “Hindi nararapat sa akin—na isinilang sa angkan ng kṣatriya—na hipuin ang ganitong bagay na itinapon. Ako’y isang dakilang prinsipe, at ako rin ay may kaalaman sa mga banal na mantra at sa mga ritwal ng paghahandog (yajña), isang taong may mabuting asal; kaya’t hindi bagay na ako’y dumikit sa marumi.”
उत्तर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a social-ethical ideal: one should act in accordance with one’s dharma and standards of purity/propriety. Uttara appeals to his kṣatriya identity and ritual learning to justify avoiding contact with what he considers impure or unbecoming.
Uttara speaks defensively, asserting his status as a kṣatriya prince and a person versed in mantras and sacrifices. On that basis, he refuses to touch something described as discarded/impure, framing the refusal as a matter of honor and ritual propriety.