In plain words
Unable to defy his teacher, with many kinds of pain, hardly able to bring himself to leave the āśram, he came home. But the teacher came some way beyond the āśram and patted him on the back: ‘Son! You are a very great scholar. But you are going away. Never pick arguments with other scholars over logic and grammar, and do not hurt their hearts. It is not a quality fit for learning. When you see elders you must go to them with humility and obedience. You must honour them. From now on, after you go home, whatever scholar comes, honour him, and give him due honour with proper humility and obedience. Give me your word on this,’ Bhāradvāja asked of him. He gave it; he gave his word just as our children give it today. ‘All my life I will bow to your command and make my life blessed,’ he said. ‘That alone, dear one, is merit for you. This is the very fee you owe your teacher,’ said Bharadvāja. He went home. He stayed at home two or three days.
But the state of things at home was dreadful. There was no food to eat. There was no roof to live under. His parents, in their distress, had come to the state of begging for alms. His mother shed streams of tears that she could not give her boy even a handful of rice. ‘Mother, you need not grieve. I will go out somewhere, earn money, come back and look after you,’ he promised. He set out from there. He reached a teacher called Upamanyu. He was a great scholar. He had no pride. He was a noble soul who set an example. The moment this student came, he said, ‘Dear one, do come in.’ He was delighted with his powers of learning. When he asked why he had come, he said, ‘Because of money difficulties; I have come with some kinds of troubles over money.’ Then: ‘Dear one, what I have is learning. I am not one who can help with money. Come with me. Let us go to the King of Kāśī. The King of Kāśī looks after scholars, honours their station, and gives them fitting help. He is a man of great sacrifice. Come, let us go to such a king,’ he said. He told him the king would give him a rich gift. Very well. With joy he could not contain, he went with Upamanyu to the King of Kāśī. The King of Kāśī honoured Upamanyu and the disciples with him, rejoiced, and gave them high seats. As when people introduce each other, the King of Kāśī went on making the introductions: who is this student, who is this scholar. They told him that this one was a scholar, speaking of Gārgya. He bowed to him humbly and gave him a seat. ‘Why have you come?’ the king asked. He could not say anything, Gārgya. Upamanyu told the King of Kāśī. ‘His condition is very low.