Shloka 4
Saṃvaraṇa’s Petition and Tapatī’s Conditioned Consent (सम्वरण-तपती संवादः)
ब्राह्मण उवाच नाहमेतत करिष्यामि जीवितार्थी कथंचन । ब्राह्मणस्यातिथेश्रैव स्वार्थ प्राणान् वियोजयन्,ब्राह्मणने कहा--मैं अपने जीवनकी रक्षाके लिये किसी तरह ऐसा नहीं करूँगा। एक तो ब्राह्मण, दूसरे अतिथिके प्राणोंका नाश मैं अपने तुच्छ स्वार्थके लिये कराऊँ! यह कदापि सम्भव नहीं है
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.