Shloka 4
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
प्रपात्यमान: श्येनेन कपोत: प्रियदर्शन: । वृषदर्भ महाभागं नरेन्द्र शरणं गत:,एक समयकी बात है, एक बाज किसी सुन्दर कबूतरको मार रहा था। वह कबूतर बाजके डरसे भागकर महाभाग राजा वृषदर्भ (उशीनर)-की शरणमें गया
prapātyamānaḥ śyenena kapotaḥ priyadarśanaḥ | vṛṣadarbha mahābhāgaṃ narendra śaraṇaṃ gataḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Suatu ketika seekor merpati yang elok dipandang disambar seekor elang. Karena ketakutan ia melarikan diri dan memohon perlindungan kepada raja mulia Vṛṣadarbha (Uśīnara).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces the dharma of refuge: when a frightened being seeks shelter, especially from a ruler, protection becomes a moral obligation. It foregrounds the king’s role as guardian of the vulnerable, even when the threat is powerful.
A hawk attacks a pigeon. The pigeon escapes and runs to the noble king Vṛṣadarbha (Uśīnara) for protection, setting up a moral test about whether the king will uphold the duty of granting refuge.