Shloka 23
कपिलगोसंवादे गृहस्थ-त्यागधर्मयोः प्रमाण्यविचारः
Kapila–Cow Dialogue: Authority of Householder and Renunciant Dharmas
अतीतास्वथ वर्षासु शरत्काल उपस्थिते । प्राजापत्येन विधिना विश्वासात् काममोहितौ
atītāsv atha varṣāsu śaratkāla upasthite | prājāpatyena vidhinā viśvāsāt kāmamohitau, rājan |
Bhishma sprach: Als die Regenzeit vorüber war und der Herbst eintrat, vereinigten sich jene Sperlinge—vom Begehren verblendet—miteinander nach der von Prajāpati verordneten Ordnung der Fortpflanzung. Im Vertrauen auf die Harmlosigkeit und Standhaftigkeit des Asketen legten sie ihre Eier sogar auf des Weisen Haupt. Der strahlende Brāhmaṇa, streng in seinen Gelübden, erkannte, dass die Vögel Eier in seinen verfilzten Haarlocken abgelegt hatten.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how steadfastness in vows and harmlessness can generate trust even among animals; it also frames procreation as a natural, Prajāpati-ordained order, while implicitly praising restraint and responsibility in the face of desire.
As the seasons change from rains to autumn, a pair of sparrows, driven by desire, mate and—trusting an unmoving ascetic—lay their eggs on his head, in his matted locks; the vow-keeping sage becomes aware of this.