Shloka 25
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
ऋषयो नियमांस्त्यक्त्वा परित्यज्याग्निदेवता: । आश्रमान् सम्परित्यज्य पर्यधावन्नितस्तत:,अग्निके उपासक ऋषिगण नियम और अमन्निहोत्र त्यागकर अपने आश्रमोंको भी छोड़कर भोजनके लिये इधर-उधर दौड़ रहे थे
ṛṣayo niyamāṁs tyaktvā parityajyāgnidevatāḥ | āśramān samparityajya paryadhāvann itas tataḥ ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন—ঋষিরা নিয়ম-সংযম ত্যাগ করে, অগ্নিহোত্র ও অগ্নিদেবতার আরাধনা পরিত্যাগ করে, আশ্রম ছেড়ে খাদ্যের সন্ধানে এদিক-ওদিক ছুটে বেড়াতে লাগলেন।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how severe material crisis can destabilize even disciplined spiritual life: when survival is threatened, observances (niyama) and ritual continuity (Agnihotra) may collapse, showing the fragility of practiced dharma under extreme hunger and fear.
Bhīṣma describes sages who, due to lack of food, abandon their regular disciplines and fire-worship, leave their hermitages, and run in different directions seeking sustenance.