Shloka 89
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
कपिर्वराह: श्रेष्ठश्न धर्मश्न॒ वृष उच्यते । तस्माद् वृषाकपिं प्राह कश्यपो मां प्रजापति:
kapir varāhaḥ śreṣṭhaś ca dharmajñaś ca vṛṣa ucyate | tasmād vṛṣākapiṁ prāha kaśyapo māṁ prajāpatiḥ ||
“Seekor kera dan seekor babi hutan—apabila menjadi yang terunggul serta mengetahui dharma—disebut ‘vṛṣa’ (lembu kebenaran). Maka Prajāpati Kaśyapa pun menyapaku sebagai ‘Vṛṣākapi.’”
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
Educational Q&A
The verse links true excellence with dharma-knowledge: one who is foremost and dharma-wise is metaphorically called a ‘vṛṣa’ (bull), i.e., a pillar of righteousness. Names and titles are shown to reflect ethical stature, not merely species or form.
A speaker explains the origin/justification of the epithet ‘Vṛṣākapi’: because a ‘kapi’ (monkey) and ‘varāha’ (boar), when exemplary and dharma-knowing, are termed ‘vṛṣa,’ Prajāpati Kaśyapa addressed the speaker by the compound name ‘Vṛṣākapi.’