Shloka 17
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
शरणमें आये हुए को भय देना, स्त्रीका वध करना, ब्राह्मणका धन लूटना और मित्रोंके साथ द्रोह करना--ये चार अधर्म एक ओर और भक्तका त्याग दूसरी ओर हो तो मेरी समझमें यह अकेला ही उन चारोंके बराबर है ।। वैशग्पायन उवाच तद् धर्मराजस्य वचो निशम्य धर्मस्वरूपी भगवानुवाच । युधिष्ठिरं प्रीतियुक्तो नरेन्द्र श्ल_्ष्णै्वाक्यै: संस्तवसम्प्रयुक्तै:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरका यह कथन सुनकर कुत्तेका रूप धारण करके आये हुए धर्मस्वरूपी भगवान् बड़े प्रसन्न हुए और राजा युधिष्ठिरकी प्रशंसा करते हुए मधुर वचनोंद्वारा उनसे इस प्रकार बोले--
śaraṇam āgatam abhayaṃ dātum; strī-vadhaḥ, brāhmaṇa-dhana-haraṇam, mitra-drohaś ca—ete catvāro 'dharmā ekataḥ; bhaktasya tyāgaḥ punar ekataḥ. mama mate sa eko 'pi teṣāṃ catūrṇāṃ samānaḥ. vaiśampāyana uvāca—tad dharmarājasya vaco niśamya dharma-svarūpī bhagavān uvāca. yudhiṣṭhiraṃ prīti-yukto narendraṃ ślakṣṇair vākyaiḥ saṃstava-samprayuktaiḥ…
Vaiśampāyana said: “To frighten one who has sought refuge, to kill a woman, to plunder a brāhmaṇa’s wealth, and to betray one’s friends—these four are adharma on one side; and on the other side is the abandonment of a devotee. In my judgment, that single act (abandoning the devotee) equals those four.” Hearing this statement of Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, the Lord who is Dharma itself—having come in the form of a dog—was greatly pleased. Praising King Yudhiṣṭhira, he addressed him with gentle, commendatory words.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Protecting one who seeks refuge and remaining loyal to a devoted companion are presented as paramount duties. The verse ranks ‘abandoning a devotee’ as a moral failure so severe that it is equated with multiple major transgressions, underscoring steadfastness, compassion, and fidelity as central to dharma.
After Yudhiṣṭhira refuses to forsake the dog that has accompanied him, Vaiśampāyana reports that Dharma—who had come disguised as a dog to test him—hears Yudhiṣṭhira’s words, becomes pleased, and begins to praise and address him with gentle, approving speech.