Shloka 27
Aṣṭāvakra–Kahoda Upākhyāna: Śvetaketu’s Āśrama, Sarasvatī, and the Origin of Aṣṭāvakra
पुनश्चोत्कृत्य मांसानि राजा प्रादादुशीनर:,किंतु दूसरे पलड़ेमें रखा हुआ कबूतर उस मांसकी अपेक्षा अधिक भारी निकला, तब महाराज उशीनरने पुनः अपना मांस काटकर चढ़ाया। इस प्रकार बार-बार करनेपर भी जब वह मांस कबूतरके बराबर न हुआ, तब सारा मांस काट लेनेके पश्चात् वे स्वयं ही तराजूपर चढ़ गये
punaś cotkṛtya māṃsāni rājā prādād uśīnaraḥ | kintu dvitīye palaḍe sthāpitaḥ kapotaḥ tāni māṃsāni atikramya gurutaro babhūva | tataḥ mahārāja uśīnaro punaḥ punaḥ svamāṃsaṃ nikṛtya āropayām āsa | evaṃ bahuśaḥ kṛte'pi yadā tat māṃsaṃ kapotasya tulyaṃ na babhūva, tadā sarvamāṃsaṃ nikṛtya sa svayam eva tulāyām āruroha ||
ローマシャは言った。ウシーナラ王は再び自らの身から肉を切り取り、秤に載せた。だが反対の皿に置かれた鳩は、その肉よりなお重かった。ゆえに大王は幾度となく肉を切り、供えて加えた。それでもなお鳩の重さに及ばぬと見るや、切り得る限りを切り尽くし、ついには自ら秤へと乗り上げた。
लोगमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is to protect one who seeks refuge, even at great personal cost. The episode highlights uncompromising commitment to compassion, truth, and the ethical duty of sheltering the vulnerable.
To save the dove, King Uśīnara offers his own flesh on a balance as a substitute. The dove remains heavier each time, so the king continues cutting and offering more until he finally places his own body on the scale, demonstrating total self-offering to uphold his pledge.