Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 133
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
ऋषय ऊचु: इष्टमेतद् द्विजातीनां योड्यं ते शपथ: कृत: । त्वया कृतं बिसस्तैन्यं सर्वेषां न: शुन:सख
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ—iṣṭam etad dvijātīnāṃ yadyaṃ te śapathaḥ kṛtaḥ | tvayā kṛtaṃ bisastainyaṃ sarveṣāṃ naḥ śunaḥsakha ||
ਰਿਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਹੇ ਸ਼ੁਨಃਸਖ! ਤੂੰ ਜੋ ਸਹੁੰ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਦਵਿਜਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਭਾਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸਾਡੇ ਮ੍ਰਿਣਾਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਚੋਰੀ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ।
शुन:सख उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how vows and pious-sounding statements can be used as social signals; ethical discernment requires looking beyond the form of an oath to the intent and likelihood of wrongdoing.
A group of sages address Śunaḥsakha and infer from the nature of his oath—something agreeable to Brahmins—that he is likely the one who stole their lotus-stalks, thus openly accusing him.