Shloka 38
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
स चिन्तयामास तदा स्तैन्यं कार्यमितो मया । न हीदानीमुपायो मे विद्यते प्राणधारणे
sa cintayāmāsa tadā stainyaṃ kāryam ito mayā | na hīdānīm upāyo me vidyate prāṇadhāraṇe ||
ਤਦ ਉਹ ਮਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੋਚਣ ਲੱਗਾ— “ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇੱਥੇ ਚੋਰੀ ਕਰਨੀ ਪਵੇਗੀ; ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਜਾਨ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਢੰਗ ਨਹੀਂ।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: when survival is threatened, the mind may justify adharma (theft) as ‘necessary.’ It invites reflection on how necessity, intention, and available alternatives affect moral responsibility.
A person (described in the surrounding context as a muni) is in a life-threatening situation and concludes that stealing (specifically, taking meat) is the only way to stay alive, and he resolves to do it.