Shloka 8
Āraṇyaka-parva Adhyāya 199: Dharmavyādha on Svakarma, Vidhi, and the Limits of Ahiṃsā
अथान्यो्प्यश्वार्थी ब्राह्मण आगच्छत् । तथैव चैनमुक्त्वा वामपार्ष्णिमभ्यदादथ प्रायात् पुनरपि चान्यो>प्यश्वार्थी ब्राह्मण आगच्छत् त्वरितो5थ तस्मै अपनहा वाम॑ धुर्यमददत्,“इतनेहीमें एक-दूसरा ब्राह्मण आया। उसे भी घोड़ेकी ही आवश्यकता थी। जब उसने याचना की, तब राजाने पूर्ववत् उससे भी यही कहा--“लौटनेपर दूँगा।” परंतु उसके आग्रह करनेपर उन्होंने रथके वाम पार्श्वका एक घोड़ा दिया। फिर वे आगे बढ़ गये। तदनन्तर एक घोड़ा माँगनेवाला दूसरा ब्राह्मण आया। उसने भी जल्दी ही माँगा। तब राजाने उसे बायें धुरेका बोझ ढोनेवाला अश्व खोल करके दे दिया
atha anyo 'py aśvārthī brāhmaṇa āgacchat | tathaiva cainam uktvā vāmapārṣṇim abhyadād atha prāyāt | punar api cānyo 'py aśvārthī brāhmaṇa āgacchat tvarito 'tha tasmai apanahā vāmaṃ dhuryam adadat |
Then another brahmin came, also seeking a horse. The king spoke to him in the same way as before—promising to give it upon his return—but when the brahmin pressed his request, the king handed over the left-side horse of the chariot and moved on. After that, yet another brahmin arrived, urgently asking for a horse; then the king unyoked and gave him the left yoke-horse—the one bearing the load on the left side. The episode highlights a ruler’s willingness to diminish his own means of travel and comfort in order to honor the claims of supplicants and uphold the duty of giving.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes responsiveness to legitimate supplication: even when resources are limited, one should prioritize truthful giving and compassion over personal convenience, progressively sacrificing one’s own means to meet others’ needs.
Multiple brahmins arrive one after another asking for horses. The king initially promises to give later, but when pressed he immediately gives away first a left-side chariot horse and then a left yoke-horse, continuing his journey with reduced equipment.