Shloka 1.62.11

शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः (Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse)

Devanagari script

सर्वे सुकृतकर्माणस्सर्वे धर्मपरायणा: ।पशुभूता नरेन्द्रस्य तृप्तिमग्ने: प्रयच्छत ।।।।

Transliteration

sarve sukṛtakarmāṇaḥ sarve dharmaparāyaṇāḥ | paśubhūtā narendrasya tṛptim agneḥ prayacchata ||

Translation

All of you are doers of merit, all devoted to dharma. Become the king’s sacrificial victims and grant satisfaction to Agni.

Context

Engaged in the observance of righteousness, all of you have done virtuous deeds. By becoming sacrificial animals for the king, you may satisfy Agni.

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• narendra (the king, i.e., Ambarīṣa)
• yajña

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It frames dharma as self-offering for a perceived higher order (yajña), yet invites ethical scrutiny about coercion and the legitimacy of substituting persons as victims.

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker exhorts his sons to become sacrificial substitutes to satisfy Agni and enable the king’s rite.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-sacrifice (tyāga) is praised rhetorically, though the narrative context problematizes it as an imposed demand rather than voluntary compassion.