Shloka 31
Uttaṅka’s Petition for Madayantī’s Divine Earrings (Maṇikuṇḍala) — Agreement, Proof, and Vigilance
स जगाम ततः: शीघ्रमुत्तड़को ब्राह्मणर्षभ: । सौदासं पुरुषादं वै भिक्षितुं मणिकुण्डले
sa jagāma tataḥ śīghram uttaṅko brāhmaṇarṣabhaḥ | saudāsaṃ puruṣādaṃ vai bhikṣituṃ maṇikuṇḍale ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: Rồi bậc Bà-la-môn kiệt xuất Uttanka vội vã rời nơi ấy, định đến xin vua Saudāsa—kẻ nay đã thành loài ăn thịt người—đôi khuyên tai nạm châu báu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness in dharma: a righteous person pursues a vowed duty without hesitation, even when the path leads into danger or contact with morally fallen power.
Uttanka, described as a foremost brāhmaṇa, quickly goes to King Saudāsa—depicted as a man-eater—to request the jewel earrings (maṇikuṇḍale), setting up a confrontation between ascetic purpose and a king’s degraded condition.