Shloka 28
Uttanka’s Guru-Śuśrūṣā and the Commission to Retrieve the Maṇikuṇḍalas (उत्तङ्क-गुरुशुश्रूषा तथा मणिकुण्डल-आदेशः)
उत्तड़कायामृतं देहि तोयरूपमिति प्रभु: । स मामुवाच देदवेन्द्रो न मर्त्योमर्त्यतां ब्रजेत्
Uttaḍuka uvāca: uttaḍukāyāmṛtaṃ dehi toyarūpam iti prabhuḥ | sa mām uvāca devendro na martyo martyatāṃ brajet ||
乌塔杜迦说道：“主宰啊，请以水之形赐乌塔杜迦不死甘露。”然而天帝屡次答我：“凡人不能越出凡命。”因此因陀罗劝我以别的恩赐代替阿姆利塔——但我仍坚决逼请：乌塔杜迦必须得阿姆利塔，唯此而已。
उत्तडुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a boundary in the cosmic order: ordinary mortals are not meant to transcend mortality by divine nectar. It highlights the ethical tension between compassion or promise on one side and the limits of divine law on the other.
Uttaḍuka reports a request made to Indra to grant amṛta as water for Uttaḍuka. Indra refuses, stating that a mortal cannot become immortal, and suggests giving a different boon instead; the petitioner nevertheless insists on amṛta.