Shloka 26
Aṣṭāvakra–Kahoda Upākhyāna: Śvetaketu’s Āśrama, Sarasvatī, and the Origin of Aṣṭāvakra
लोगमश उवाच उत्कृत्य स स्वयं मांसं राजा परमधर्मवित् | तोलयामास कौन्तेय कपोतेन सम॑ विभो
lomaśa uvāca utkr̥tya sa svayaṁ māṁsaṁ rājā paramadharmavit | tolayāmāsa kaunteya kapotena samaṁ vibho ||
លោកមសៈ បានពោលថា៖ «ឱ កូននៃកុន្តី! បន្ទាប់មក ព្រះរាជាអ្នកដឹងធម៌យ៉ាងល្អឥតខ្ចោះនោះ បានកាត់សាច់ពីរាងកាយរបស់ព្រះអង្គដោយដៃរបស់ព្រះអង្គផ្ទាល់ ហើយចាប់ផ្តើមថ្លឹងឲ្យស្មើនឹងសត្វព្រាប ឱ វីរបុរសដ៏អស្ចារ្យ»។
लोगमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld not merely by intention but by costly action: a ruler must protect the helpless who seek refuge, even if it demands personal suffering. The king’s willingness to give his own flesh illustrates that compassion and protection of the dependent can outweigh self-preservation.
In the well-known Śibi/Uśīnara episode, a dove seeks the king’s protection. To honor the refuge given while addressing the demand for equivalent compensation, the king cuts his own flesh and weighs it against the dove, demonstrating steadfast adherence to dharma.