Shloka 1
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
०४८ श्यु 8 त्रिनववतितमो<्थ्याय: गृहस्थके धर्मोका रहस्य
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | dvijātayo vratopetā havis te yadi bhuñjate | annaṃ brāhma-kāmāya katham etat pitāmaha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Avô, se homens duas-vezes-nascidos, que observam um voto, participam do alimento sacrificial (havis) para satisfazer o pedido de um brâmane, como isso deve ser julgado? Nesse caso, qual é o proceder correto — manter o voto sem concessões, ou ceder ao desejo do brâmane por reverência e dever?”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a classic dharma-dilemma: when two duties appear to conflict—fidelity to one’s vow (vrata) versus honoring a Brahmin’s request and the social-ritual obligations tied to it—one must discern which action best upholds dharma in context, intention, and consequence.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira asks Bhīṣma to clarify whether vow-observing twice-born men may eat sacrificial/ritual food to satisfy a Brahmin’s wish, and how such an act should be evaluated ethically.