Shloka 11
Viṣṇor Māhātmya and Indriya-saṃyama (विष्णोर्माहात्म्यं तथा इन्द्रियसंयमः)
ततस्तु यज्ञे सावित्री साक्षात् त॑ संन्यमन्त्रयत् । निमन्त्रयन्ती प्रत्युक्ता न हन््यां सहवासिनम्
tatastu yajñe sāvitrī sākṣāt taṁ saṁnyamantrayata | nimantrayantī pratyuktā na hanyāṁ sahavāsinam ||
Então, naquele sacrifício, a própria Sāvitrī apareceu e o instou diretamente ao ato. Mas, quando ela o convidou e o instruiu, o brāhmaṇa respondeu que não mataria o cervo que vivia com ele. Assim, recusou-se a cumprir, colocando a ahimsā e a lealdade ao companheiro dependente acima da conveniência ritual.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension between ritual instruction and moral restraint: even when a sacred authority urges an act within a sacrificial setting, the brāhmaṇa upholds ahimsa and fidelity to a dependent companion, implying that conscience and non-violence can override ritual demands.
During a sacrifice, Sāvitrī appears and counsels the brāhmaṇa to offer a deer as an oblation. The brāhmaṇa responds that he cannot kill the deer that lives with him, and therefore refuses her instruction.