Shloka 47
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
गण्डाने कहा--मेरे ये मालिक लोग अत्यन्त शक्तिशाली होते हुए भी जब इस भयंकर प्रतिग्रहके भयसे इतना डरते हैं, तब मेरी क्या सामर्थ्य है? मुझे तो दुर्बल प्राणियोंकी भाँति इससे बहुत बड़ा भय लग रहा है ।।
paśusakha uvāca | yad vai dharme paraṁ nāsti brāhmaṇās tad dhanaṁ viduḥ | vinayārthaṁ suvidvāṁsam upāseyaṁ yathātatham ||
Paśusakha berkata: “Sungguh, tiada kekayaan yang lebih tinggi daripada kekayaan yang lahir dari hidup selaras dengan dharma. Para brāhmaṇa mengetahui itulah kekayaan sejati. Karena itu, untuk mempelajari tata laku dan cara memperoleh kekayaan yang lahir dari dharma itu, aku—dengan rendah hati dan sebisaku—mengabdikan diri pada pelayanan seorang brāhmaṇa yang sungguh berilmu.”
पशुसख उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the greatest ‘wealth’ is not material gain but the prosperity that arises from living by dharma. Such value is recognized by the brāhmaṇas, and the proper way to acquire it is through vinaya (humble discipline) and respectful service to the truly learned.
Paśusakha speaks in a reflective, instructive tone, declaring his intention to seek guidance from learned brāhmaṇas. He frames his pursuit as a practical apprenticeship: by serving the wise with humility, he hopes to learn the means of attaining dharma-based well-being.