Shloka 56
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
धर्म तवापि विप्रर्षे शुणु यत् ते ब्रवीम्पहम्
dharmaṃ tavāpi viprarṣe śṛṇu yat te bravīmy aham | manīṣiṇaḥ puruṣā vadanti śvā śṛgālād api adhamaḥ | śuno 'pi śarīre tasya jaṅghā-bhāgaḥ sarvādhamo bhavati ||
हे विप्रर्षि! तुम्हारे लिए भी जो धर्म की बात मैं कहता हूँ, उसे सुनो। मनीषी कहते हैं कि कुत्ता सियार से भी अधिक अधम है; और कुत्ते के शरीर में भी उसकी जाँघ का भाग सबसे अधम माना गया है।
घपच उवाच
Educational Q&A
The speaker uses a graded comparison of baseness (dog vs. jackal, and a low part within the dog’s body) to stress that some behaviors and associations are considered especially degrading; dharma requires discernment and avoidance of what leads to moral and social disgrace.
In a didactic exchange within Śānti Parva, Ghapaca addresses a brahmin seer and frames his remarks as instruction in dharma, employing a stark proverbial image to make his ethical point forcefully.