Shloka 17
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
शरणमें आये हुए को भय देना, स्त्रीका वध करना, ब्राह्मणका धन लूटना और मित्रोंके साथ द्रोह करना--ये चार अधर्म एक ओर और भक्तका त्याग दूसरी ओर हो तो मेरी समझमें यह अकेला ही उन चारोंके बराबर है ।।
śaraṇam āgatam abhayaṃ dātum; strī-vadhaḥ, brāhmaṇa-dhana-haraṇam, mitra-drohaś ca—ete catvāro 'dharmā ekataḥ; bhaktasya tyāgaḥ punar ekataḥ. mama mate sa eko 'pi teṣāṃ catūrṇāṃ samānaḥ. vaiśampāyana uvāca—tad dharmarājasya vaco niśamya dharma-svarūpī bhagavān uvāca. yudhiṣṭhiraṃ prīti-yukto narendraṃ ślakṣṇair vākyaiḥ saṃstava-samprayuktaiḥ…
Yudhiṣṭhira dijo: «Aterrorizar a quien ha buscado refugio, matar a una mujer, saquear la riqueza de un brāhmaṇa y traicionar a los amigos: estos cuatro adharma están de un lado; y del otro está abandonar a un devoto. A mi entender, ese solo acto equivale a los cuatro.» Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Oh Janamejaya, al oír estas palabras de Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, el Señor que es el Dharma mismo—venido en forma de perro—se llenó de gran alegría. Alabando al rey Yudhiṣṭhira, le habló con palabras suaves, colmadas de elogio, de este modo…»
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Protecting one who seeks refuge and remaining loyal to a devoted companion are presented as paramount duties. The verse ranks ‘abandoning a devotee’ as a moral failure so severe that it is equated with multiple major transgressions, underscoring steadfastness, compassion, and fidelity as central to dharma.
After Yudhiṣṭhira refuses to forsake the dog that has accompanied him, Vaiśampāyana reports that Dharma—who had come disguised as a dog to test him—hears Yudhiṣṭhira’s words, becomes pleased, and begins to praise and address him with gentle, approving speech.