Shloka 9
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
इन्द्रने कहा--राजन! तुम्हें अमरता, मेरी समानता, पूर्ण लक्ष्मी और बहुत बड़ी सिद्धि प्राप्त हुई है, साथ ही तुम्हें स्वर्गीय सुख भी उपलब्ध हुए हैं; अतः इस कुत्तेको छोड़ो और मेरे साथ चलो। इसमें कोई कठोरता नहीं है ।।
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
anāryam āryeṇa sahasranetra śakyaṃ kartuṃ duṣkaram etad ārya |
mā me śriyā saṅgamanam tayāstu yasyāḥ kṛte bhaktajanaṃ tyajeyam ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai Sahasranetra (Indra), bagi seorang mulia melakukan perbuatan hina amatlah sulit—bahkan tidak pantas bagi yang mulia. Semoga aku tak pernah memperoleh kemakmuran, atau bersatu dengan keberuntungan semacam itu, yang menuntut ditinggalkannya seorang sahabat yang setia.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True nobility (āryatva) is measured by steadfast dharma: one should not trade loyalty and compassion for heavenly reward or prosperity. Fortune that demands betrayal of a devoted companion is rejected as ethically tainted.
At the threshold of heaven, Indra urges Yudhiṣṭhira to leave behind the dog that has followed him. Yudhiṣṭhira replies that abandoning a faithful companion would be an ignoble act for an ārya, and he refuses any ‘Śrī’ or reward that requires such abandonment.