Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 14
शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः
Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse
कथमात्मसुतान् हित्वा त्रायसेऽन्यसुतं विभो।अकार्यमिव पश्याम श्श्वमांस इव भोजने।।।।
katham ātma-sutān hitvā trāyase ’nya-sutaṃ vibho | akāryam iva paśyāma śva-māṃsam iva bhojane ||
Ô Seigneur, comment peux-tu sauver le fils d’autrui en abandonnant tes propres fils ? À nos yeux, cela ressemble à un acte interdit, comme manger de la chair de chien en guise de nourriture.
O Lord! protecting other's son by abandoning one' own is like partaking the flesh of a dog. We consider it a prohibited act".
FAQs
The verse raises the dharmic issue of impartial responsibility: abandoning one’s own dependents while protecting another is portrayed as adharma (an impermissible act).
Viśvāmitra’s sons protest his intention to rescue/accept Śunaḥśepa (another’s son) while disregarding their own status as his sons.
The sons emphasize loyalty to familial duty and social propriety, though their stance is also framed as resistance to their father’s broader compassionate purpose.