Shloka 17
Aṣṭāvakra–Kahoda Upākhyāna: Śvetaketu’s Āśrama, Sarasvatī, and the Origin of Aṣṭāvakra
तो भी तुम शरणागतके त्यागको कैसे अच्छा मानते हो? यह मेरी समझमें नहीं आता। विहंगम! वास्तवमें तुम्हारा यह उद्योग केवल भोजन प्राप्त करनेके लिये है ।।
śyena uvāca | śavyaś cāpy anyathā kartum āhāro 'py adhikas tvayā | govṛṣo vā varāho vā mṛgo vā mahiṣo 'pi vā | tvad-artham adya kriyatāṃ yac cānyad iha kāṅkṣasi ||
Elang itu berkata: “Makanan dapat diatur bagimu dengan cara lain—bahkan lebih banyak daripada merpati ini. Hari ini, demi engkau, siapkanlah seekor banteng yang baik, atau babi hutan, atau rusa, atau bahkan kerbau; atau apa pun yang kau kehendaki di sini. Wahai burung, upayamu ini sungguh hanya untuk memperoleh makanan—maka bagaimana engkau menganggap pantas meninggalkan yang telah mencari perlindungan?”
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sharpens the ethical tension between hunger-driven violence and the dharma of protecting one who has sought refuge (śaraṇāgata). It questions whether mere appetite can justify abandoning the duty of protection, and suggests alternative means that avoid violating refuge-protection.
In the well-known hawk–pigeon episode, the hawk argues that the host (addressed as ‘bird’) can provide it other food—larger animals or anything desired—rather than surrendering the pigeon that has come for protection. The speech frames the hawk’s pursuit as motivated by food and challenges the moral acceptability of giving up a refugee.