Shloka 9
Viṣṇor Māhātmya and Indriya-saṃyama (विष्णोर्माहात्म्यं तथा इन्द्रियसंयमः)
तस्मिन् वने समीपस्थो मृगो5भूत् सहवासिक: । वचोभिरब्रवीत् सत्यं त्वयेदं दुष्कृतं कृतम्,उस वनमें सत्यका सहवासी एक मृग था, जो वहाँ पास ही रहता था। एक दिन उसने मनुष्यकी बोलीमें सत्यसे कहा--'ब्राह्मण! तुमने यज्ञके नामपर यह दुष्कर्म किया है
tasmin vane samīpastho mṛgo 'bhūt sahavāsikaḥ | vacobhir abravīt satyaṃ tvayedaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam |
त्या वनात जवळच सत्याचा सहवासी असा एक मृग राहत होता. तो मनुष्यवाणीने सत्य बोलला—“तुझ्यामुळे हे दुष्कृत्य घडले आहे.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wrongdoing does not become righteous merely by being associated with a religious label; truth itself (here symbolized by a deer allied with Satya) exposes and condemns harm committed under the pretext of sacrifice.
Nārada narrates that in a forest a deer living close by—described as a companion of Truth—speaks in human language and directly rebukes someone, declaring that the person has committed an evil act (implied to be done in the name of a yajña).