Shloka 15
Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 187: Drupada’s Inquiry and the Dharma Debate on Draupadī’s Marriage
पीत: समुद्रो5गस्त्येन हागाधो ब्रह्मतेजसा । तस्माद् ब्रुवन्तु सर्वेडत्र बटुरेष धनुर्महान्
pītaḥ samudro ’gastyena hy agādho brahma-tejasā | tasmād bruvantu sarve ’tra baṭur eṣa dhanur mahān ||
毗舍波耶那说道：“大海——纵然深不可测——也曾被阿伽斯提耶凭借婆罗门苦行所迸发的炽烈威光一饮而尽。因此，愿在座诸人都开口作证：我们面前这位少年，确是一位伟大的弓手，堪当此神弓。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses Agastya’s legendary feat as an exemplum to show that spiritual power (brahma-tejas) can accomplish what seems impossible, and that an assembly should openly acknowledge genuine capability when it appears—even in someone young.
Vaiśampāyana cites the story of Agastya drinking the ocean to underscore extraordinary power, then urges those present to declare their judgment that the youth standing there is a truly great wielder of the bow.