Shloka 47
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
गण्डाने कहा--मेरे ये मालिक लोग अत्यन्त शक्तिशाली होते हुए भी जब इस भयंकर प्रतिग्रहके भयसे इतना डरते हैं, तब मेरी क्या सामर्थ्य है? मुझे तो दुर्बल प्राणियोंकी भाँति इससे बहुत बड़ा भय लग रहा है ।।
paśusakha uvāca | yad vai dharme paraṁ nāsti brāhmaṇās tad dhanaṁ viduḥ | vinayārthaṁ suvidvāṁsam upāseyaṁ yathātatham ||
Paśusakha disse: “Em verdade, não há riqueza mais elevada do que aquela que provém de viver de acordo com o dharma. Os brāhmaṇas sabem que essa é a riqueza real. Por isso, para aprender a disciplina e o método pelos quais se alcança essa riqueza nascida do dharma, eu me vinculo—humilde e tanto quanto posso—ao serviço de um brāhmaṇa verdadeiramente erudito.”
पशुसख उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the greatest ‘wealth’ is not material gain but the prosperity that arises from living by dharma. Such value is recognized by the brāhmaṇas, and the proper way to acquire it is through vinaya (humble discipline) and respectful service to the truly learned.
Paśusakha speaks in a reflective, instructive tone, declaring his intention to seek guidance from learned brāhmaṇas. He frames his pursuit as a practical apprenticeship: by serving the wise with humility, he hopes to learn the means of attaining dharma-based well-being.