Shloka 11
Adhyāya 122 — Śruta-vṛtta-yukta Brāhmaṇa and the Ethics of Dāna
Maitreya–Vyāsa Saṃvāda
।। स कीट एवमाभाष्य ऋषिणा सत्यवादिना । प्रतिस्मृत्याथ जग्राह पादौ मूर्थ्नि कृताउ्जलि:
sa kīṭa evam ābhāṣya ṛṣiṇā satyavādinā | pratismṛtyātha jagrāha pādau mūrdhni kṛtāñjaliḥ ||
他既与那位言必真实的圣仙如是交谈——当时尚为虫身——便追忆起圣者之言与恩泽。于是合掌致敬，俯首稽首，将额置于圣者足下，以示谦卑、感恩，并归顺于达摩之道。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthful sages elevate even the lowliest being; the proper response to such guidance is humility, remembrance of the teaching, and reverent submission to dharma—symbolized by folded hands and bowing at the sage’s feet.
A being described as a kīṭa (worm/insect-form) has spoken with a truth-speaking sage. Remembering that encounter, he approaches in devotion, joins his palms, and bows so that his head rests upon the sage’s feet, indicating repentance, gratitude, and acceptance of the sage’s authority.