Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 15
Kṛṣṇasya Dvārakā-praveśaḥ — Krishna’s Return to Dvārakā and the Raivataka Festival
सौदासने कहा--द्विजश्रेष्ठ! यदि यहाँ मुझे उचित बात कहनी है, तब तो मैं यही कहूँगा कि ब्राह्मणोत्तम! आपको मेरे पास किसी तरह नहीं आना चाहिये
Saudāsa uvāca—Dvijaśreṣṭha! yadi iha mama yuktam vacaḥ vaktavyam, tarhi aham etad eva brūyām—brāhmaṇottama! tvam mama samīpam kathaṃcid api na āgantavyam.
苏达萨说道：“二生者中最卓越者啊！若我在此必须说出真正合宜之言，那么我只说这一句：婆罗门之最上者啊，你无论如何都不该靠近我。”
सौदास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint and responsibility in speech and conduct: even when addressing a revered Brahmin, Saudāsa insists that what is ‘proper’ must be spoken plainly, and he sets a boundary—implying concern for safety, propriety, or avoidance of harm.
Saudāsa addresses a Brahmin respectfully (dvijaśreṣṭha, brāhmaṇottama) and declares that, if he must state the correct course, he would advise the Brahmin not to come near him at all—suggesting a tense or dangerous circumstance surrounding Saudāsa’s presence.