Adhyaya 3 — The Dharmapakshis’ Past-Life Curse and Indra’s Test of Truthfulness
ऊचुश्च मरणाद्घोरान्मोक्षिताः स्मस्त्वया मुने ।
आवास-भक्ष्य-पयसां त्वं नो दाता पिता गुरुः ॥
ūcuś ca maraṇād ghorān mokṣitāḥ sma tvayā mune / āvāsa-bhakṣya-payasāṃ tvaṃ no dātā pitā guruḥ
Sie sprachen: „O Weiser, du hast uns vor einem schrecklichen Tod gerettet. Du bist uns der Spender—von Zuflucht, Nahrung und Milch—und für uns bist du Vater und Guru.“
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The verse elevates the rescuer and sustainer to the status of both father and guru: one who preserves life and provides basic supports (shelter, food, nourishment) becomes an object of reverence. Ethically, it teaches gratitude (kṛtajñatā) and the dharmic duty to honor benefactors, especially sages who protect and guide.
This verse is primarily within the Purāṇic narrative frame and dharma-teaching ambience rather than a direct instance of sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita. At most, it supports vaṃśānucarita-style storytelling (conduct of persons) by illustrating ideal relational dharma toward a protector-guru.
On a symbolic level, ‘rescue from dreadful death’ can be read as liberation from existential fear through right guidance; the guru is portrayed not only as transmitter of knowledge but also as the very ground of sustenance (anna/payaḥ/āśraya). The triad “dātā–pitā–guruḥ” suggests that true guidance integrates protection, nourishment, and wisdom.