Shloka 40
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
यथावद् गुरुवृत्त्या ते प्रीतो5स्मि द्विजसत्तम । वरं वृणीष्व भद्ठं ते प्रदातास्मि न संशय:
yathāvad guruvṛttyā te prīto ’smi dvijasattama | varaṁ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṁ te pradātāsmi na saṁśayaḥ ||
“Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong hàng lưỡng sinh, ta thật lòng hoan hỷ vì ngươi đã phụng sự thầy mình đúng phép. Nguyện điều lành đến với ngươi. Hãy chọn một ân huệ; ta sẽ ban cho—không chút nghi ngờ.”
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Proper, disciplined service to one’s teacher (guru-vṛtti/guru-sevā) is presented as a powerful ethical virtue that earns genuine approval and tangible reward. The verse highlights dharmic formation through humility, obedience, and right conduct, and shows that blessings/boons are not arbitrary but arise from meritorious behavior.
Prahlāda addresses a Brahmin student respectfully, declaring that he is pleased with the student’s fitting service to the guru. He then invites the student to choose a boon and assures him it will be granted without doubt, marking a moment of recognition and reward within the didactic setting of Śānti Parva.