Shloka 1.62.10
शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः (Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse)
अयं मुनिसुतो बालो मत्तश्शरणमिच्छति।अस्य जीवितमात्रेण प्रियं कुरुत पुत्रका:।।।।
ayaṃ munisuto bālo mattaḥ śaraṇam icchati | asya jīvitamātreṇa priyaṃ kuruta putrakāḥ ||
This boy, the son of a sage, seeks refuge with me. O sons, grant him what he longs for—by giving up only your lives.
O sons of the sage! this young boy has sought my protection. O Sons! you may grant him his desire by merely offering your life.
The verse foregrounds śaraṇāgati (seeking protection) as a moral claim, while also raising a dharmic tension: whether preserving a supplicant can justify demanding another’s life.
An elder tells his sons that the boy has sought his protection and urges them to save the boy by offering their own lives.
Protection of the dependent (rakṣaṇa-dharma) is invoked, though the proposed means tests the boundaries of compassion and righteousness.