Shloka 10
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
तत्समानो भवास्माभिभर्भोज्यं दास्यामहे वयम् | भुड्क्ष्व शौचं परित्यज्य यद्धि भुक्त सदास्तु ते,'भैया! अतः तू हमारे ही समान होकर रह। तेरे लिये भोजन तो हमलोग ला दिया करेंगे। तू इस शौचाचारका नियम छोड़कर चुपचाप खा लिया करना। तेरी जातिका जो सदासे भोजन रहा है, वही तेरा भी होना चाहिये”
tatsamāno bhavāsmābhir bhojyaṃ dāsyāmahe vayam | bhuṅkṣva śaucaṃ parityajya yad dhi bhuktaṃ sadāstu te ||
Bhishma said: “Therefore, live as one equal to us. We will provide your food. Set aside this rule of ritual scruple about purity and simply eat. What has always been the customary food of your community—let that be yours as well.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames ethical accommodation and social inclusion as more important than rigid ritual scruples: he urges the listener to accept sustenance without anxiety over purity rules, emphasizing practical compassion and equal standing.
Bhishma addresses someone in a vulnerable position and reassures them that they will be treated as an equal and provided food; he instructs them to abandon strict śauca-based hesitation and to eat the customary food associated with their community.