Shloka 6
तापती–संवरणोपाख्यानम्
The Tapatī–Saṃvaraṇa Episode: Meaning of “Tāpatya”
वेतनं तस्य विहितं शालिवाहस्य भोजनम् । महिषौ पुरुषश्लैको यस्तदादाय गच्छति,उसके लिये कर नियत किया गया है--बीस खारी अगहनीके चावलका भात, दो भैंसे और एक मनुष्य, जो वह सब सामान लेकर उसके पास जाता है
vetanaṁ tasya vihitaṁ śālivāhasya bhojanam | mahiṣau puruṣaślaiko yas tad ādāya gacchati ||
त्याच्यासाठी वेतन (कर) ठरविलेले आहे—शालिवाहाच्या भोजनासाठी अगहणी तांदळाचा भात, दोन म्हशी आणि एक मनुष्य; जो हे सर्व घेऊन त्याच्याकडे जातो.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds how ‘prescribed dues’ can be treated as legitimate by custom, yet may conceal moral harm—especially when a human being is counted among transferable items. It invites reflection on dharma as more than social convention: ethical scrutiny is required when norms commodify life.
A brāhmaṇa speaker states the fixed compensation/levy owed: provisions (a meal of rice) for Śālivāha, plus two buffaloes and one man, to be delivered by whoever carries these items to him. The statement functions as a formal specification of what must be paid and delivered.