Shloka 78
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
श्षपच उवाच काम नरा जीवितं संत्यजन्ति न चाभक्ष्ये क्वचित् कुर्वन्ति बुद्धिम् । सर्वान् कामानू प्राप्तुवन्तीह विद्वन् प्रियस्व काम॑ सहित: क्षुधैव,चाण्डालने कहा--विद्वन्! अच्छे पुरुष अपने प्राणोंका परित्याग भले ही कर दें, परंतु वे कभी अभक्ष्य-भक्षणका विचार नहीं करते हैं। इसीसे वे अपनी सम्पूर्ण कामनाओंको प्राप्त कर लेते हैं; अत: आप भी भूखके साथ ही--उपवासद्दवारा ही अपनी मन:ःकामनाकी पूर्ति कीजिये
śvapaca uvāca: kāma narā jīvitaṃ saṃtyajanti na cābhakṣye kvacit kurvanti buddhim | sarvān kāmān prāpnuvantīha vidvan priyasva kāma-sahitaḥ kṣudhaiva ||
The Śvapaca said: “For the sake of desire, men may even abandon their lives; yet they never set their mind on eating what is forbidden. By that very restraint they attain all their aims here. Therefore, O wise one, fulfill your wish by enduring hunger itself—by fasting—rather than by resorting to impure food.”
श्षपच उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even under extreme pressure like hunger, one should not violate dharmic boundaries (such as eating what is forbidden). Restraint and purity of conduct are presented as the means by which one ultimately attains one’s legitimate aims.
A Śvapaca (Caṇḍāla) addresses a ‘wise one’ and advises him not to resort to forbidden food. He argues that good people may risk life itself but do not choose adharmic means; instead, they should endure hunger through fasting to accomplish their purpose.