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Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 536

Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)

न तात तरुण दान्तं पिता त्वां पश्यतेडनघ । गालवजीने कहा--राजन! विश्वामित्र मुनिकी आज्ञा पाकर मैं अपने पिताजीका दर्शन करनेके लिये घरपर आया। उस समय मेरी माता वैधव्यके दुःखसे दुःखी हो जोर-जोरसे रोती हुई मुझसे बोली--'तात! अनघ! कौशिक मुनिकी आज्ञा लेकर घरपर आये हुए वेदविद्यासे विभूषित तुझ तरुण एवं जितेन्द्रिय पुत्रको तुम्हारे पिता नहीं देख सके'

na tāta taruṇa dāntaṃ pitā tvāṃ paśyate 'nagha |

“孩子啊,清白无瑕者——你的父亲已不能见你了;纵然你奉考希迦牟尼(毗湿瓦密多)之命归来,已成自制的青年,并以吠陀学识为饰。”

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
तातO dear (son)/O child
तात:
TypeNoun
Rootतात
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
तरुणyoung
तरुण:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootतरुण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
दान्तम्self-controlled
दान्तम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदान्त
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पिताfather
पिता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
त्वाम्you
त्वाम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormAccusative, Singular
पश्यतेsees
पश्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootपश्
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
अनघO sinless one
अनघ:
TypeNoun
Rootअनघ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

गालव उवाच

G
Gālava
G
Gālava's mother
G
Gālava's father
K
Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the ethical tension between unwavering obedience to a guru’s command and the emotional obligations of family life; it also praises self-restraint and Vedic discipline while acknowledging the human cost of such commitments.

Galava reports that, after fulfilling Viśvāmitra’s (Kauśika’s) instruction and returning home, his widowed mother—overcome with sorrow—tells him that his father is no longer able to see him, lamenting the missed reunion.