Shloka 63
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
विश्वामित्र उवाच नैतस्येह यथास्माकं शभश्रच्छास्त्रं जरद्गव: | अलस: क्षुत्परो मूर्खस्तेन पीवाउछुना सह
Viśvāmitra uvāca: naitasyeha yathāsmākaṃ śabhaśracchāstraṃ jaradgavaḥ | alasaḥ kṣutparo mūrkhas tena pīvāucchunā saha ||
Viśvāmitra dit : «Cet homme n’est pas comme nous ici, ô Jaradgava : nous que la pression de la faim a conduits à oublier l’antique enseignement sacré, et dont le dharma prescrit par les Écritures s’est affaibli. Lui, au contraire, est paresseux, poussé seulement par l’envie de remplir son ventre, et sot ; voilà pourquoi il a engraissé en compagnie d’un chien.»
विश्वामित्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two ethical conditions: (1) people whose adherence to śāstra and dharma has weakened due to extreme hunger, and (2) a person who is not compelled by hardship but is simply lazy, appetite-driven, and foolish. It implies that moral failure born of necessity is different from moral failure born of indulgence and ignorance.
Viśvāmitra addresses Jaradgava and comments on a certain individual. He argues that the person should not be excused as someone forced into compromise by hunger (as ‘we’ are), but should be judged as lazy and gluttonous—symbolically shown by becoming fat while associating with a dog.