Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 7
शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः
Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse
त्वं मे नाथो ह्यनाथस्य भव भव्येन चेतसा।पितेव पुत्रं धर्मात्मं स्त्रातुमर्हसि किल्बिषात्।।।।
tvaṃ me nātho hy anāthasya bhava bhavyena cetasā | pitevā putraṃ dharmātmāṃ strātum arhasi kilbiṣāt ||
ਮੈਂ ਅਨਾਥ ਹਾਂ; ਇਸ ਲਈ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਹੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਨਾਥ ਬਣੋ। ਮੰਗਲਮਈ ਤੇ ਕਰੁਣਾਮਈ ਚਿੱਤ ਨਾਲ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਬਣੋ। ਹੇ ਧਰਮਾਤਮਾ, ਜਿਵੇਂ ਪਿਤਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਪਾਪ ਅਤੇ ਭੈ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਨਿਸ਼ਚੇ ਹੀ ਉਧਾਰੋ।
O Virtuous one! with a kind heart protect this orphan. Like a father who protects his son, save me from this peril".
FAQs
The dharma highlighted is protection of the helpless (anātha) and honoring refuge-seeking (śaraṇāgati). A righteous person is expected to act like a father—using compassion and moral responsibility to save another from wrongdoing and danger.
Śunaḥśepha, facing a sacrificial threat and moral peril, appeals to Viśvāmitra for refuge and rescue, framing the request as a duty of a dharmic protector.
Viśvāmitra’s expected virtue is karuṇā (compassion) guided by dharma—protecting one who has surrendered and preventing him from falling into ‘kilbiṣa’ (sin/culpability).