Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
पशुसख उवाच पशून् रज्जामि दृष्टवाहं पशूनां च सदा सखा | गौणं पशुसखेत्येवं विद्धि मामग्निसम्भवे
Paśusakha uvāca: paśūn rajjāmi dṛṣṭavāhaṃ paśūnāṃ ca sadā sakhā | gauṇaṃ paśusakhety evaṃ viddhi mām agnisambhave ||
قال باشوسَخا: «إني أُبهِجُ الحيوانات وأكون لها رفيقًا ودودًا على الدوام. فاعلمي أن اسمي “باشوسَخا” اسمٌ وصفيّ وُلد من هذه الصفة بعينها—يا كِرْتْيَا المنبثقة من النار.»
पशुसख उवाच
The verse highlights an ethical ideal: one’s identity and reputation should arise from benevolent conduct—here, kindness and companionship toward animals. The name ‘Paśusakha’ is presented as a gauṇa (attribute-based) epithet grounded in compassionate action.
A speaker named Paśusakha addresses a fire-born being (Kṛtyā), explaining why he is called ‘Paśusakha’: he continually pleases and befriends animals, and his name is derived from this defining trait.