Shloka 11
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
इन्द्रने कहा--धर्मराज! कुत्ता रखनेवालोंके लिये स्वर्गलोकमें स्थान नहीं है। उनके यज्ञ करने और कुआँ, बावड़ी आदि बनवानेका जो पुण्य होता है उसे क्रोधवश नामक राक्षस हर लेते हैं; इसलिये सोच-विचारकर काम करो। छोड़ दो इस कुत्तेको। ऐसा करनेमें कोई निर्दयता नहीं है ।।
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | bhakta-tyāgaṃ prāhur atyanta-pāpaṃ tulyaṃ loke brahma-vadhyā-kṛtena | tasmān nāhaṃ jātu kathaṃcanādya tyakṣyāmy enaṃ sva-sukhārthī mahendra ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dijo: «Oh Mahendra, los sabios declaran que abandonar a quien es devoto y ha buscado refugio es un pecado inexpiable, tenido en este mundo por igual al asesinato de un brāhmaṇa. Por eso, oh Mahendra, no abandonaré de ningún modo a este perro hoy por mi propia felicidad».
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld by refusing to abandon a devoted dependent for personal gain; loyalty and protection of one who has taken refuge are treated as paramount duties, and their violation is portrayed as a gravely sinful act.
At the threshold of heaven, Indra urges Yudhiṣṭhira to enter but asks him to leave behind the dog that has accompanied him. Yudhiṣṭhira refuses, declaring that abandoning such a faithful companion would be an inexpiable sin, even if it costs him entry into heaven.