Mahabharata — Udyoga Parva, Shloka 11
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
तपस्विनो महात्मानो वेदप्रत्ययदर्शिन: । उदीर्यमाणं राजानं क्रोधदीप्ता द्विजातय:
tapasvino mahātmāno vedapratyayadarśinaḥ | udīryamāṇaṃ rājānaṃ krodhadīptā dvijātayaḥ ||
毗舍婆耶那说：那些苦行的、伟大心灵的二生圣者——亲证吠陀定理者——见国王仍不断逼问，怒焰顿起。虽已劝止，他却执意反复追问；于是诸婆罗门愤然起身，准备开口训诫，以划明谦恭求问与傲慢挑衅之间的伦理界限。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical limit: inquiry should be guided by humility and receptivity. When a ruler’s questioning becomes insistence fueled by pride, even patient sages—grounded in Vedic certainty—may respond with righteous anger to reassert dharma and proper conduct.
A king continues to press questions repeatedly; the ascetic Brahmin seers, who understand Vedic principles, become angered at his persistent, agitated manner and are about to speak to him in response.