Shloka 11
Viṣṇor Māhātmya and Indriya-saṃyama (विष्णोर्माहात्म्यं तथा इन्द्रियसंयमः)
ततस्तु यज्ञे सावित्री साक्षात् त॑ संन्यमन्त्रयत् । निमन्त्रयन्ती प्रत्युक्ता न हन््यां सहवासिनम्
tatastu yajñe sāvitrī sākṣāt taṁ saṁnyamantrayata | nimantrayantī pratyuktā na hanyāṁ sahavāsinam ||
Then, in that sacrifice, Sāvitrī herself appeared and directly urged him toward the act. But when she invited and instructed him, the brāhmaṇa replied that he would not kill the deer who lived with him. Thus he refused to comply, placing non-violence and loyalty to a dependent companion above ritual expediency.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension between ritual instruction and moral restraint: even when a sacred authority urges an act within a sacrificial setting, the brāhmaṇa upholds ahimsa and fidelity to a dependent companion, implying that conscience and non-violence can override ritual demands.
During a sacrifice, Sāvitrī appears and counsels the brāhmaṇa to offer a deer as an oblation. The brāhmaṇa responds that he cannot kill the deer that lives with him, and therefore refuses her instruction.