Shloka 3
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 10: Ruru’s Vow and Ḍuṇḍubha’s Appeal (रुरोः प्रतिज्ञा—डुण्डुभोपदेशः)
डुण्ड्रुभ उवाच अन््ये ते भुजगा ब्रह्मन् ये दशन्तीह मानवान् | डुण्डुभानहिगन्धेन न त्वं हिंसितुमहसि,डुण्डुभने कहा--ब्रह्मन्! वे दूसरे ही साँप हैं जो इस लोकमें मनुष्योंको डँसते हैं। साँपोंकी आकृति-मात्रसे ही तुम्हें डुण्डुभोंको नहीं मारना चाहिये
Ḍuṇḍrubha uvāca: anye te bhujagā brahman ye daśantīha mānavān | ḍuṇḍubhān ahigandhena na tvaṁ hiṁsitum arhasi ||
Ḍuṇḍrubha sprach: „O Brahmane, andere Schlangen sind es, die in dieser Welt Menschen beißen. Du sollst uns, die ḍuṇḍubhas, nicht verletzen, nur weil wir den Geruch (oder die Ähnlichkeit) von Schlangen tragen.“
डुण्ड्रुभ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not punish or harm beings merely due to outward resemblance or suspicion; ethical action requires discernment—those who actually commit harm should be restrained, not innocents who only appear similar.
Ḍuṇḍrubha addresses a Brahmin and pleads for restraint, arguing that true man-biting serpents are others; the ḍuṇḍubhas should not be attacked simply because they bear a snake-like odor or likeness.