Shloka 23
कपिलगोसंवादे गृहस्थ-त्यागधर्मयोः प्रमाण्यविचारः
Kapila–Cow Dialogue: Authority of Householder and Renunciant Dharmas
अतीतास्वथ वर्षासु शरत्काल उपस्थिते । प्राजापत्येन विधिना विश्वासात् काममोहितौ
atītāsv atha varṣāsu śaratkāla upasthite | prājāpatyena vidhinā viśvāsāt kāmamohitau, rājan |
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Raja, ketika musim hujan telah berlalu dan musim gugur tiba, sepasang burung pipit itu—tergoda oleh nafsu—bersatu menurut tata prokreasi yang ditetapkan Prajāpati. Karena percaya pada sang pertapa, mereka bahkan meletakkan telur-telurnya di atas kepala sang resi. Brahmana yang bercahaya itu, teguh dalam laku tapa dan sumpahnya, pun mengetahui bahwa burung-burung telah menaruh telur di gimbal rambutnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how steadfastness in vows and harmlessness can generate trust even among animals; it also frames procreation as a natural, Prajāpati-ordained order, while implicitly praising restraint and responsibility in the face of desire.
As the seasons change from rains to autumn, a pair of sparrows, driven by desire, mate and—trusting an unmoving ascetic—lay their eggs on his head, in his matted locks; the vow-keeping sage becomes aware of this.