Shloka 133
ऋषय ऊचु: इष्टमेतद् द्विजातीनां योड्यं ते शपथ: कृत: । त्वया कृतं बिसस्तैन्यं सर्वेषां न: शुन:सख,ऋषियोंने कहा--शुन:ःसख ! तुमने जो शपथ की है, वह तो ब्राह्मणोंको अभीष्ट ही है। अत: जान पड़ता है, हमारे मृणालोंकी चोरी तुमने ही की है
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ—iṣṭam etad dvijātīnāṃ yadyaṃ te śapathaḥ kṛtaḥ | tvayā kṛtaṃ bisastainyaṃ sarveṣāṃ naḥ śunaḥsakha ||
The sages said: “O Śunaḥsakha, the oath you have taken is exactly what is pleasing to the twice-born. Therefore it appears that the theft of our lotus-stalks was done by you.”
शुन:सख उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how vows and pious-sounding statements can be used as social signals; ethical discernment requires looking beyond the form of an oath to the intent and likelihood of wrongdoing.
A group of sages address Śunaḥsakha and infer from the nature of his oath—something agreeable to Brahmins—that he is likely the one who stole their lotus-stalks, thus openly accusing him.