Shloka 77
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
विश्वामित्र उवाच मित्र च मे ब्राह्मणस्यथायमात्मा प्रियश्न मे पूज्यतमश्न लोके । त॑ धर्तुकामो5हमिमां जिहीर्षे नृशंसानामीदृशानां न बिभ्ये,विश्वामित्र बोले--(यदि अगस्त्यने ब्राह्मणोंकी रक्षाके लिये वह कार्य किया था तो मैं भी मित्रकी रक्षाके लिये उसे करूँगा) यह ब्राह्मणका शरीर मेरा मित्र ही है। यही जगत्में मेरे लिये परम प्रिय और आदरणीय है। इसीको जीवित रखनेके लिये मैं यह कुत्तेकी जाँघ ले जाना चाहता हूँ, अतः ऐसे नृशंस कर्मोंसे मुझे तनिक भी भय नहीं होता है
viśvāmitra uvāca | mitraṃ ca me brāhmaṇasya athāyam ātmā priyaś ca me pūjyatamaś ca loke | taṃ dhartukāmo 'ham imāṃ jihīrṣe nṛśaṃsānām īdṛśānāṃ na bibhe ||
Viśvāmitra said: “This body of the brāhmaṇa is my very friend; in this world it is dearest to me and most worthy of reverence. Wishing to preserve it, I intend to take away this dog’s thigh. I do not fear such harsh, blame-inviting acts when they are undertaken for this purpose.”
विश्वामित्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
In extreme circumstances, preserving life—especially of one regarded as venerable—may justify actions normally condemned; the verse frames this as a deliberate choice within āpaddharma, undertaken without fear of social blame when the intent is protection.
Viśvāmitra declares that the brāhmaṇa’s very person is like his friend and most worthy of honor; to keep him alive he resolves to take a dog’s thigh for food, stating he is not afraid of the harshness or censure associated with such an act.