Shloka 19
नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
मिषतो देवलस्यापि ततो<र्ध हृतवानहम् । स्ववेददक्षिणायार्थे विमर्दे मातुलेन ह
miṣato devalasyāpi tato 'rdhaṃ hṛtavān aham | svavedadakṣiṇāyārthe vimarde mātulena ha ||
耶若那伐迦说道：“即使圣者提婆罗在旁注视，我仍将其中一半据为己有。为偿付我自身吠陀师长应得的达克希那（dakṣiṇā，师资供养），又因外叔一再强逼催促，我便将那供养的一半交与他，自己保留了另一半。”
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical conflict: fulfilling one’s legitimate obligation (guru-dakṣiṇā for one’s own Vedic study) can be complicated by improper claims and social pressure. It implicitly warns that even a seemingly practical compromise—splitting a gift—may be morally questionable when it violates the integrity of what should be offered wholly and transparently.
Yājñavalkya recounts an incident involving the sage Devala and his maternal uncle. Under the uncle’s insistent urging, and even in Devala’s presence, Yājñavalkya divides the dakṣiṇā: he gives half to the uncle and keeps half for his own Vedic teacher’s fee.