Shloka 80
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
बुद्धयात्मके व्यक्तमस्तीति पुण्यं मोहात्मके यत्र यथा श्वृभक्ष्ये । यद्यप्येतत् संशयात्मा चरामि नाहं भविष्यामि यथा त्वमेव,यह कुत्तेका मांस-भक्षण दो प्रकारसे हो सकता है--एक बुद्धि और विचारपूर्वक तथा दूसरा अज्ञान एवं आमसत्तिपूर्वक। बुद्धि एवं विचारद्वारा सोचकर धर्मके मूल तथा ज्ञानप्राप्तिके साधनभूत शरीरकी रक्षामें पुण्य है, यह बात स्वतः स्पष्ट हो जाती है। इसी तरह मोह एवं आसक्तिपूर्वक उस कार्यमें प्रवृत्त होनेसे दोषका होना भी स्पष्ट ही है। यद्यपि मैं मनमें संशय लेकर यह कार्य करने जा रहा हूँ तथापि मेरा विश्वास है कि मैं इस मांसको खाकर तुम्हारे-जैसा चाण्डाल नहीं बन जाऊँगा। (तपस्याद्वारा इसके दोषका मार्जन कर लूँगा)
buddhy-ātmake vyaktam astīti puṇyaṁ mohātmake yatra yathā śvṛbhakṣye | yady apy etat saṁśayātmā carāmi nāhaṁ bhaviṣyāmi yathā tvam eva ||
Viśvāmitra said: “In an act done with awakened understanding, merit is plainly present; but in an act driven by delusion—such as this eating of dog’s flesh—fault arises according to the manner and motive. If one reflects with intelligence, it becomes self-evident that there is merit in protecting the body, which is the very basis of dharma and a means toward knowledge. Likewise, it is equally clear that when one engages in the same act out of infatuation and attachment, blame attaches to it. Though I proceed while still carrying doubt within, I am confident that by eating this meat I shall not become like you—a caṇḍāla; I will cleanse its taint through austerity.”
विश्वामित्र उवाच