Shloka 173
समन्तपञ्चक-आख्यानम् तथा अक्षौहिणी-प्रमाणनिर्णयः
Samantapañcaka Narrative and the Measure of an Akṣauhiṇī
ततः श्येनकपोतीयमुपाख्यानमनुत्तमम् | इन्द्राग्नी यत्र धर्मस्य जिज्ञासार्थ शिबिं नृूपम्,इसके बाद श्येन (बाज) और कपोत (कबूतर)-का सर्वोत्तम उपाख्यान है। इसमें इन्द्र और अग्नि राजा शिबिके धर्मकी परीक्षा लेनेके लिये आये हैं
tataḥ śyenakapotīyam upākhyānam anuttamam | indrāgnī yatra dharmasya jijñāsārthaṁ śibiṁ nṛpam ||
यानंतर श्येन आणि कपोत यांचे अनुपम उपाख्यान येते; ज्यात इंद्र व अग्नी राजा शिबीकडे धर्माची खरी परीक्षा घेण्यासाठी आणि त्याची रक्षण-कर्तव्यनिष्ठा जाणून घेण्यासाठी येतात।
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is shown as steadfast protection of one who seeks refuge, even when doing so is costly. The episode frames righteous kingship as prioritizing the vulnerable and upholding ethical duty under severe moral pressure.
The text introduces the celebrated sub-tale of the hawk and the dove. Indra and Agni come in disguise to King Śibi to examine his commitment to dharma, setting up a moral trial centered on refuge, justice, and compassion.