Shloka 12
माधवी-प्रदानम् (Mādhavī Offered to Gālava) — Udyoga Parva 113
सो<यं तेनाभ्यनुज्ञात उपकारेप्सया द्विज: । तमाह भगवन् किं ते ददानि गुरुदक्षिणाम्,'विश्वामित्रजीने (इनकी सेवाके बदले) इनका भी उपकार करनेकी इच्छासे इन्हें घर जानेकी आज्ञा दे दी। तब इन्होंने उनसे पूछा--“भगवन्! मैं आपको क्या गुरुदक्षिणा दूँ?
so 'yaṁ tenābhyanujñāta upakārepsayā dvijaḥ | tam āha bhagavan kiṁ te dadāni gurudakṣiṇām ||
اُس کی اجازت پا کر وہ برہمن، احسان کا بدلہ چکانے کی خواہش سے، اُس سے بولا—“اے بھگون! میں آپ کو کون سی گرو دکشِنا دوں؟”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as gratitude and reciprocity: when one receives help or instruction, one should acknowledge it respectfully and seek an appropriate way to repay—here expressed through offering gurudakṣiṇā.
A brahmin, having been granted permission to depart, wishes to return the favor. He addresses the revered person who released him and asks what gurudakṣiṇā he may give in return.