Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्र उवाच शिष्टा वै कारणं धर्मे तद्वृत्तमनुवर्तये । परां मेध्याशनामेनां भक्ष्यां मन्ये श्वजाघनीम्‌,विश्वामित्र बोले-शिष्टपुरुष ही धर्मकी प्रवृत्तिके कारण हैं। मैं उन्हींके आचारका अनुसरण करता हूँ; अतः इस कुत्तेकी जाँघको मैं पवित्र भोजनके समान ही भक्षणीय मानता हूँ

Transliteration

viśvāmitra uvāca | śiṣṭā vai kāraṇaṃ dharme tadvṛttam anuvartaye | parāṃ medhyāśanām enāṃ bhakṣyāṃ manye śvajāghanīm |

Translation

Viśvāmitra said: “The conduct of the cultured and disciplined is indeed the source and guide of dharma; I follow their way of life. Therefore I regard this dog’s thigh as fit to be eaten, as though it were a pure and sanctified food.”

Word by Word

विश्वामित्रःVishvamitra

उवाचsaid

शिष्टाःthe learned/virtuous (elders)

वैindeed

कारणम्cause

धर्मेin dharma / in matters of duty

तत्that

वृत्तम्conduct/practice

अनुवर्तयेI follow

पराम्supreme/very (as an intensifier)

मेध्यpure, fit for sacrifice

अशनम्food/eating

एनाम्this (female object)

भक्ष्याम्edible, fit to be eaten

मन्येI consider

श्वजाघनीम्a dog's thigh (dog-thigh piece of meat)

Speaker

विश्वामित्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Viśvāmitra

śiṣṭāḥ (exemplary/cultured people)

dog’s thigh (śvajāghanī)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes