Upamanyu ended his hymn with a heartfelt prayer:
“O Ashvin twins, restore my sight and grant me life.”
Pleased by his devotion, the divine Ashvins appeared before him and said, “We are satisfied with your praise. Here is a sacred cake. Eat it.”
Upamanyu respectfully replied, “Your words can never be false, O divine ones. Yet I cannot eat this cake without first offering it to my teacher.”
The Ashvins answered, “Long ago, your own teacher worshipped us in the same way. We gave him a cake, and he ate it without first offering it to his teacher. You may do as he did.”
But Upamanyu remained firm.
“O Ashvins,” he said, “forgive me, but I cannot eat anything without first presenting it to my preceptor.”
The Ashvins were delighted by his unwavering obedience.
“We are pleased by your devotion to your teacher,” they said. “Your preceptor possesses teeth like black iron, but yours shall become golden. Your eyesight will be restored, and you shall attain great prosperity and good fortune.”
At once, Upamanyu's sight returned.
He went back to his teacher, bowed before him, and recounted everything that had happened.
The teacher was greatly pleased and said, “Just as the Ashvins promised, so shall it be. You will attain great success, and all the Vedas will become fully revealed to you.”
Thus ended the trial of Upamanyu.
Now there was another disciple of Ayoda-Dhaumya named Veda.
One day the teacher said to him:
“My son Veda, remain here in my household for some time and serve your teacher faithfully. Through such service, you will attain great blessings and success.”
Veda accepted his teacher's command and remained in the hermitage, dedicating himself completely to the service of his guru.
Veda accepted his teacher’s command and remained in the gurukula for many years, dedicating himself entirely to the service of his master.
Like a strong bull patiently yoked to a heavy cart, he carried every burden placed upon him. He endured heat and cold, hunger and thirst, hardship and discomfort, never once complaining or showing resentment. Whatever his teacher asked of him, he performed with unwavering devotion.
In time, his steadfast service pleased his teacher greatly.
Satisfied with his disciple’s obedience and dedication, the teacher blessed him. Through that blessing, Veda attained prosperity, wisdom, and mastery of all knowledge.
Such was the trial of Veda.
With his teacher’s permission, Veda eventually completed his education and returned home, entering the life of a householder. In due course, three disciples came to live under his guidance.
Unlike many teachers, however, Veda never burdened them with difficult tasks or demanded constant service. Having personally experienced the hardships of life in a gurukula, he did not wish to subject his own students to the same suffering.
Some time later, two Kshatriyas—King Janamejaya and King Paushya—approached the Brahmin Veda and accepted him as their spiritual guide.
One day, Veda had to leave home to officiate at a sacrifice. Before departing, he entrusted the care of his household to one of his disciples, a devoted young man named Uttanka.
“Uttanka,” he said, “while I am away, see that nothing in my household is neglected. Whatever needs to be done, perform it carefully and without fail.”
Having given these instructions, Veda departed on his journey.
Uttanka remained in the house, faithfully carrying out his teacher’s commands and attending diligently to every duty.
While he was there, several women of the household approached him with a troubling request.
“Your teacher’s wife has reached the proper time for conception,” they said. “But your teacher is away from home. You must act in his place so that her fertile period does not pass fruitlessly. She is distressed, and this matter should not be neglected.”
Uttanka was shocked by their words.
“It would be improper for me to do such a thing merely because women have asked it of me,” he replied firmly. “My teacher never instructed me to perform any act that violates righteousness. Therefore, I will not do what is improper, even if others urge me to do so.”
Though still young, Uttanka remained unwavering in his loyalty to his teacher and in his commitment to dharma, refusing to cross a boundary that honor and duty forbade.
Some time later, Veda returned home from his journey.
When he learned everything that had happened in his absence—especially how Uttanka had steadfastly protected the honor of his household—he was deeply pleased.
Calling Uttanka before him, he said:
“My son Uttanka, what favor can I grant you? You have served me faithfully and righteously. Through your devotion, the affection between teacher and disciple has only grown stronger. I now release you from your duties. You may depart, and may all your wishes be fulfilled.”
But Uttanka respectfully replied:
“Master, allow me first to do something that will please you. For the wise say:
‘He who receives without properly repaying, and he who gives without properly accepting, both incur blame. Such an imbalance breeds misfortune and resentment.’
You have granted me permission to leave, but I do not wish to depart while still indebted to my teacher. Tell me what gift I may offer as my guru-dakshina.”
The teacher smiled and answered,
“My son, stay a little longer.”
Yet Uttanka was persistent. After some time had passed, he again approached his master and bowed before him.
“Revered sir,” he said, “please command me. What shall I bring as a gift for my teacher?”
Veda replied,
“You have asked me many times about your guru-dakshina. Go, then, and ask my wife what she desires. Whatever she requests, bring it to her.”
Obediently, Uttanka went to his teacher’s wife and bowed respectfully.
“Lady,” he said, “my teacher has permitted me to return home. Yet before I go, I wish to repay my debt and offer a worthy gift. Please tell me what I may bring for you.”
The teacher’s wife considered for a moment and then said:
“Go to King Paushya and ask for the pair of earrings worn by his queen. Bring them to me.
“Four days from now, a sacred ceremony will be held. On that auspicious day, I wish to serve the Brahmanas while wearing those earrings. They are beautiful and radiant, and I desire to adorn myself with them during the ceremony.
“If you can bring them to me before that day arrives, great fortune will be yours.”
Having received her command, Uttanka prepared himself for the journey, determined to obtain the earrings and fulfill his obligation to his teacher once and for all.