Shloka 39

Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)

Devanagari script

आपपत्सु विहितं स्तैन्यं विशिष्टसममहीनतः । विप्रेण प्राणरक्षार्थ कर्तव्यमिति निश्चय:,“आपत्तिकालमें प्राणरक्षाके लिये ब्राह्मणको श्रेष्ठ, समान तथा हीन मनुष्यके घरसे चोरी कर लेना उचित है, यह शास्त्रका निश्चित विधान है

Transliteration

āpapatsu vihitaṃ stainyaṃ viśiṣṭa-sama-mahīnataḥ | vipreṇa prāṇarakṣārthaṃ kartavyam iti niścayaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “In times of calamity, the scriptures permit theft as an emergency measure. A brāhmaṇa, for the sake of preserving life, may take by stealth from the house of one who is superior, equal, or even inferior—this is the settled rule of dharma for distress.”

Word by Word

आपत्सुin calamities / in times of distress

विहितम्prescribed / enjoined

स्तैन्यम्theft / stealing

विशिष्टfrom a superior (person/house)

समfrom an equal (person/house)

अहीनतःfrom one not inferior (i.e., not lower)

विप्रेणby a brahmin

प्राणरक्षार्थम्for the purpose of protecting life

कर्तव्यम्to be done / should be done

इतिthus

निश्चयःthe settled conclusion / certainty

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

brāhmaṇa (vipra)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes