Shloka 1.62.14

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

Devanagari script

कथमात्मसुतान् हित्वा त्रायसेऽन्यसुतं विभो।अकार्यमिव पश्याम श्श्वमांस इव भोजने।।।।

Transliteration

katham ātma-sutān hitvā trāyase ’nya-sutaṃ vibho | akāryam iva paśyāma śva-māṃsam iva bhojane ||

Translation

O Lord, how can you save another’s son while abandoning your own sons? To us, it appears like a forbidden act—like eating dog’s flesh as food.

Context

O Lord! protecting other's son by abandoning one' own is like partaking the flesh of a dog. We consider it a prohibited act".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Viśvāmitra’s sons

FAQs

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

The verse raises the dharmic issue of impartial responsibility: abandoning one’s own dependents while protecting another is portrayed as adharma (an impermissible act).

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra’s sons protest his intention to rescue/accept Śunaḥśepa (another’s son) while disregarding their own status as his sons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sons emphasize loyalty to familial duty and social propriety, though their stance is also framed as resistance to their father’s broader compassionate purpose.