Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
साध्या ऊचु. साध्या देवा वयमेते महर्षे दृष्टवा भवन्तं न शकनुमो<डनुमातुम् । श्रुतेन धीरो बुद्धिमांस्त्वं मतो नः काव्यां वाचं वक्तुमर्हस्युदाराम्
sādhyā ūcuḥ | sādhyā devā vayam ete maharṣe dṛṣṭvā bhavantaṃ na śaknumo ’numātum | śrutena dhīro buddhimāṃs tvaṃ mato naḥ kāvyāṃ vācaṃ vaktum arhasy udārām |
萨提亚诸天说道:“大圣者啊,我们是萨提亚天众。仅凭目睹你的形貌,我们无法判断你究竟是谁。然而据我们所闻,我们认定你通达圣典,沉毅坚定,且具大智慧。因此,请以高雅、精炼而富于教诲的言辞,为我们开示。”
विदुर उवाच
True authority is recognized not merely by appearance but by qualities attested through learning, steadiness, and wisdom; therefore, noble speech should be used to instruct and guide others in dharma.
A group of deities called the Sādhyas address a great seer. They admit they cannot identify him by sight alone, but having heard of his learning and character, they request him to deliver an elevated, instructive discourse.