Shloka 4
कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च
The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion
राजन! शिबि आदि महात्मा राजाओंने तो शरणागतोंकी रक्षा करके ही परम सिद्धि प्राप्त कर ली थी ।। श्रूयते च कपोतेन शत्रु: शरणमागत: । पूजितश्न यथान्यायं स्वैश्व मांसैर्निमन्त्रित:
rājan! śibi-ādayo mahātmā rājānaḥ tu śaraṇāgatānāṃ rakṣāṃ kṛtvā eva paramāṃ siddhiṃ prāptāḥ. śrūyate ca kapotena śatruḥ śaraṇam āgataḥ; pūjitaś ca yathā-nyāyaṃ svaiś ca māṃsair nimantritaḥ.
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Raja, para raja berjiwa agung bermula dengan Śibi telah mencapai siddhi tertinggi semata-mata dengan melindungi orang yang datang memohon perlindungan. Dan juga diriwayatkan bahawa seekor burung merpati pun menerima musuh yang datang mencari naungan—memuliakannya sebagaimana patut, lalu menjemputnya menjamu dengan dagingnya sendiri.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The highest ethical and spiritual success for a ruler lies in protecting those who seek refuge (śaraṇāgata-rakṣā). Dharma demands that even an enemy who comes surrendering be treated with due honour and safeguarded, even at personal cost.
Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira by citing famous exemplars: kings like Śibi achieved supreme attainment through protecting suppliants. He further recalls a traditional tale in which a pigeon receives an enemy seeking shelter and, observing proper hospitality, offers even its own flesh—an extreme illustration of refuge-protection and guest-duty.