Shloka 76
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
श्षपच उवाच यद् ब्राह्मणार्थे कृतमर्थितेन तेनर्षिणा तदवस्थाधिकारे | स वै धर्मो यत्र न पापमस्ति सर्वैरुपायैर्गुरवो हि रक्ष्या:,चाण्डालने कहा--महर्षि अगस्त्यने ब्राह्म॒णोंकी रक्षाके लिये प्रार्थना की जानेपर वैसी अवस्थामें वातापिका भक्षणरूप कार्य किया था (उनके वैसा करनेसे बहुतसे ब्राह्मणोंकी रक्षा हो गयी; अन्यथा वह राक्षस उन सबको खा जाता; अतः महर्षिका वह कार्य धर्म ही था)। धर्म वही है, जिसमें लेशमात्र भी पाप न हो। ब्राह्मण गुरुजन हैं; अतः सभी उपायोंसे उनकी एवं उनके धर्मकी रक्षा करनी चाहिये
śvapaca uvāca | yad brāhmaṇārthe kṛtam arthitena tenarṣiṇā tad avasthādhikāre | sa vai dharmo yatra na pāpam asti sarvair upāyair guravo hi rakṣyāḥ ||
O Śvapaca disse: “Aquele feito que o sábio realizou, quando suplicado, em favor da proteção dos brāhmaṇas—praticado naquela urgência e circunstância particular—foi, de fato, correto. Dharma é aquilo em que não há sequer a menor mancha de pecado. Como os brāhmaṇas são mestres veneráveis, eles—e o seu dharma—devem ser resguardados por todos os meios possíveis.”
श्षपच उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is judged by the absence of moral fault and by the demands of the situation: an act that might look harsh can be righteous if done under necessity to protect the innocent and uphold sacred duty; venerable teachers (brāhmaṇas) should be protected by all appropriate means.
The speaker (Śvapaca) defends a sage’s controversial action performed after being requested to protect brāhmaṇas, arguing that in that emergency context it was dharma, since it prevented greater harm and safeguarded the community and its religious order.