Shloka 236
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
उत्कृत्योत्कृत्य मांसानि तुलया समतोलयत् । राजाने कहा--'बाज! तुमने ऐसी बात कहकर मुझपर बड़ा अनुग्रह किया। बहुत अच्छा, मैं ऐसा ही करूँगा।” यों कहकर नृपश्रेष्ठ उशीनरने अपना मांस काट-काटकर तराजूपर रखना आरम्भ किया
utkṛtyotkṛtya māṃsāni tulayā samatolayat |
Dengan memotong dagingnya berulang-ulang, baginda menimbangnya hingga seimbang pada neraca. Raja Uśīnara berkata: “Wahai helang! Dengan kata-katamu itu engkau telah menganugerahkan kepadaku suatu kebaikan yang besar. Baiklah, aku akan melakukannya.” Lalu raja yang mulia itu pun mula menghiris dagingnya sendiri dan meletakkannya di atas timbangan.
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is tested when duties conflict: the king’s vow to protect one who seeks refuge is upheld even at the cost of his own body. The episode teaches that ethical integrity and the protection of the vulnerable may demand personal sacrifice, especially from a ruler.
The hawk insists on its rightful food and demands compensation equal to the dove’s weight. The king, having granted refuge to the dove, begins cutting his own flesh and weighing it on a balance to match the required weight, choosing suffering for himself rather than betraying his promise of protection.