Shloka 31
मधुकैटभवधोपाख्यानम्
The Account of the Slaying of Madhu and Kaiṭabha
सुमृष्टमपि न श्रेयो विकल्पो5यमत: सताम् | श्ववत् कीलालपो यस्तु परान्नं भोक्तुमिच्छति
sumṛṣṭam api na śreyo vikalpo 'yam ataḥ satām | śvavat kīlālapaḥ yas tu parānnaṃ bhoktum icchati ||
ولو زُيِّن هذا الخيارُ وأُحكِمَت صورته، فليس فيه نفعٌ حقيقيٌّ للأخيار. فمن أراد أن يأكل طعام غيره فهو كالكلب يَلْحَسُ الثُّفالة، يعيش بما هو ملكٌ للآخرين.
बक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns the desire to live on what belongs to others (parānna). Even if such a course is presented attractively, it is not śreyas (true welfare) for the virtuous; it is likened to a dog’s low dependence, stressing dignity and ethical self-restraint.
Baka speaks critically about a proposed ‘option’ or course of action, rejecting it as unworthy for good people. He frames the issue in moral terms—seeking to eat another’s food signifies dependence and degradation—thus arguing against that choice within the ongoing dialogue of the episode.