Shloka 66
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
“जैसे-जैसे ही जीवन सुरक्षित रहे, उसे बिना अवहेलनाके करना चाहिये। मरनेसे जीवित रहना श्रेष्ठ है, क्योंकि जीवित पुरुष पुन: धर्मका आचरण कर सकता है ।।
yathā-yathā hi jīvanaṃ surakṣitaṃ bhavet, tad anavamānataḥ kartavyam | maraṇād jīvitaṃ śreyaḥ, yataḥ jīvan puruṣaḥ punaḥ dharmam ācarituṃ śaknoti || so 'haṃ jīvitam ākāṅkṣan abhakṣyasyāpi bhakṣaṇam | vyavasye buddhi-pūrvaṃ vai tad bhavān anumanyatām ||
ଯେପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଜୀବନ ରକ୍ଷା ସମ୍ଭବ, ସେପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ତାହାକୁ ଅବହେଳା ନ କରି ରକ୍ଷା କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ମୃତ୍ୟୁଠାରୁ ଜୀବନ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, କାରଣ ଜୀବିତ ପୁରୁଷ ପୁନଃ ଧର୍ମ ଆଚରଣ କରିପାରେ। ତେଣୁ ଜୀବନ ଆକାଙ୍କ୍ଷାରେ ମୁଁ ବୁଦ୍ଧିପୂର୍ବକ ଏହି ଅଭକ୍ଷ୍ୟକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଭକ୍ଷଣ କରିବାକୁ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ କରିଛି; ଆପଣ ଏହାକୁ ଅନୁମୋଦନ କରନ୍ତୁ।
घपच उवाच
Educational Q&A
Preserving life is presented as a legitimate priority because continued life enables future practice of dharma; thus, in extremity, one may choose a normally prohibited act with conscious deliberation, aiming to return to righteous conduct later.
The speaker argues for safeguarding life and seeks approval for a decision made under necessity: to eat something classified as abhakṣya (forbidden), justifying it as a means to survive and thereby remain capable of practicing dharma again.