Shloka 6
शकुनि (हिरण्मय-पक्षी) उपदेशः — Vighasāśin and the Difficulty of Gārhasthya
ऋषय ऊचु अहो बतायं शकुनिर्विघसाशान् प्रशंसति । अस्मान् नूनमयं शास्ति वयं च विघसाशिन:,ऋषि बोले--अहो! यह पक्षी तो विघसाशी (यज्ञशेष अन्न भोजन करनेवाले) पुरुषोंकी प्रशंसा करता है। निश्चय ही यह हमलोगोंकी बड़ाई करता है; क्योंकि यहाँ हमलोग ही विघसाशी हैं
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ—aho batāyaṃ śakunir vighasāśān praśaṃsati | asmān nūnam ayaṃ śāsti vayaṃ ca vighasāśinaḥ ||
قال الحكماء: «آه، حقًّا—إن هذا الطائر يثني على من يحيون على “فيغاسا”، أي الطعام المتبقّي بعد القربان. لا ريب أنه يمدحنا، لأننا هنا نحن أنفسنا آكلو الفيغاسا».
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical ideal connected with restraint and ritual purity: living on vighasa—food remaining after offerings—symbolizes disciplined, non-indulgent sustenance and respect for sacrificial order, which the sages recognize as a mark of dharmic conduct.
A bird speaks in a way that praises ‘vighasa-eaters.’ Hearing this, the sages interpret the praise as directed toward themselves, since they are presently living on sacrificial remnants, and they remark on the bird’s commendation.