Shloka 72
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
श्षपच उवाच भिक्षामन्यामाहरेति न च कर्तुमिहाहसि । न नूनं कार्यमेतद् वै हर काम॑ श्वजाघनीम्
śvapaca uvāca — bhikṣām anyām āhareti na ca kartum ihārhasi | na nūnaṁ kāryam etad vai hara kāmaṁ śvajāghanīm ||
श्वपच बोला—मुने! दूसरी भिक्षा ले आइए; यहाँ इसे ग्रहण करना आपके लिए उचित नहीं। निश्चय ही यह कार्य नहीं करना चाहिए। यदि आपकी इच्छा हो तो यह कुत्ते की जाँघ ले जाइए; पर मैं दृढ़तापूर्वक कहता हूँ—आपको इसका भक्षण नहीं करना चाहिए।
श्षपच उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even under pressure (such as hunger or hardship), one should not violate what is deemed improper conduct; the speaker urges choosing alternative alms rather than consuming a morally/ritually objectionable food.
An outcaste addresses a mendicant/ascetic and advises him not to accept or eat the offered item—specifically a dog’s thigh—telling him instead to seek other alms, while allowing him to take it away if he insists.