Shloka 68
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
घपच उवाच नैतत् खादन प्राप्तुते दीर्घमायु- नैंव प्राणान्नामृतस्थेव तृप्ति: । भिक्षामन्यां भिक्ष मा ते मनोस्तु श्वभक्षणे श्वा हाभक्ष्यो द्विजानाम्
ghapaca uvāca | naitat khādan prāptute dīrgham āyuḥ naiva prāṇān nāmṛtas-theva tṛptiḥ | bhikṣām anyāṃ bhikṣa mā te manas tu śvabhakṣaṇe śvā hy abhakṣyo dvijānām |
घपच बोला—इसे खाकर दीर्घायु नहीं मिलती। न इससे प्राणबल बढ़ता है, न अमृत-सी तृप्ति होती है। इसलिए दूसरी भिक्षा माँगिए; आपका मन कुत्ते का मांस खाने की ओर न जाए। कुत्ता द्विजों के लिए अभक्ष्य है।
घपच उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharmic restraint in food: not all available food is spiritually or ethically suitable. For the dvijas, dog’s flesh is classified as abhakṣya (forbidden), and one should seek alternative alms rather than compromise prescribed conduct.
A speaker named Ghapaca advises a mendicant/recipient of alms not to accept or eat dog’s meat, arguing it brings neither longevity nor true nourishment, and reminding that it is prohibited for the twice-born; thus the person should request different alms.