Shloka 10
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
इन्द्र उवाच स्वर्गे लोके श्ववतां नास्ति घिष्ण्य- मिष्टापूर्त क्रोधवशा हरन्ति । ततो विचार्य क्रियतां धर्मराज त्यज श्वानं नात्र नृशंसमस्ति
indra uvāca svargeloke śvavatāṁ nāsti ghiṣṇyam iṣṭāpūrta-krodhavaśā haranti | tato vicārya kriyatāṁ dharmarāja tyaja śvānaṁ nātra nṛśaṁsam asti ||
Indra said: “In the heavenly world there is no place for one who keeps a dog. Such creatures, driven by anger, spoil the merit gained from sacrifices and charitable works. Therefore, O Dharmarāja, reflect and decide: abandon the dog. There is no cruelty in this.”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a conflict between rule-based notions of ritual purity/eligibility for heaven and the ethical demand to act without cruelty. Indra argues from a conventional heavenly rule—dogs are disallowed and are said to diminish iṣṭa-pūrta merit—while the narrative context sets up Dharmarāja’s response as a test of steadfast compassion and dharma beyond mere reward.
At the threshold of heaven, Indra addresses Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) and instructs him to abandon the dog that has accompanied him. Indra claims that keeping a dog prevents admission to heaven and insists that leaving it behind would not be cruelty, thereby pressuring Dharmarāja to choose between heavenly entry and loyalty/compassion.