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 ।।
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…
ユディシュティラは言った。「庇護を求めて来た者を脅かすこと、女を殺すこと、バラモンの財を略奪すること、友を裏切ること——この四つの不義が一方にあるとしても、他方にあるのは信徒を見捨てることだ。私の見立てでは、その一事は四つに等しい。」 ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「ジャナメージャヤ王よ、法王ユディシュティラのこの言葉を聞くや、犬の姿で来臨した“法そのもの”なる主は大いに喜ばれた。そしてユディシュティラ王を讃え、柔らかく賞讃に満ちた言葉で、次のように語りかけた……」
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.