Mahabharata 1.161.4 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 161, Shloka 4
Saṃvaraṇa’s Petition and Tapatī’s Conditioned Consent (सम्वरण-तपती संवादः)
ब्राह्मण उवाच नाहमेतत करिष्यामि जीवितार्थी कथंचन । ब्राह्मणस्यातिथेश्रैव स्वार्थ प्राणान् वियोजयन्
brāhmaṇa uvāca nāham etat kariṣyāmi jīvitārthī kathaṃcana | brāhmaṇasyātitheś caiva svārthe prāṇān viyojayan ||
The Brahmin said: “I will not do this in any way, even for the sake of saving my own life. For my petty self-interest, how could I cause the loss of life of a Brahmin—and moreover of a guest? That would be utterly impossible.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dharma over self-preservation: one must not commit grave wrongdoing—especially harming a Brahmin or violating the sanctity of a guest (atithi)—for personal gain or even to save one’s own life.
A Brahmin speaker rejects a proposed action that would result in the death of a Brahmin guest. He declares that even under threat to his own life, he will not sacrifice an innocent guest for selfish ends.
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