Shloka 3
Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
त्यागं श्रेष्ठ मुन॒यो वै वदन्ति सर्वश्रेष्ठ यच्छरीरं त्यजन्त: । नित्यं युक्ता राजधर्मेषु सर्वे प्रत्यक्ष ते भूमिपाला यथैव,ऋषि-मुनि त्यागको ही श्रेष्ठ बताते हैं। उसमें भी युद्धमें राजालोग जो अपने शरीरका त्याग करते हैं, वह सबसे श्रेष्ठ त्याग है। सदा राजधर्ममें संलग्न रहनेवाले समस्त भूमिपालोंने जिस प्रकार युद्धमें प्राणत्याग किया है, वह सब तुम्हारी आँखोंके सामने है
tyāgaṃ śreṣṭha munayo vai vadanti sarvaśreṣṭha yaccharīraṃ tyajantaḥ | nityaṃ yuktā rājadharmeṣu sarve pratyakṣa te bhūmipālā yathaiva ||
Indra disse: “Os sábios declaram que a renúncia (tyāga) é o mais elevado. E, entre todas as formas de renúncia, a suprema é abandonar o próprio corpo. Todos os reis, sempre devotados aos deveres da soberania, tal como viste com teus próprios olhos, depuseram a vida em batalha—eis diante de ti a prova direta.”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Renunciation (tyāga) is praised as the highest ideal, and the greatest form of it is self-sacrifice—especially when undertaken in steadfast adherence to rājadharma (the ethical duties of kingship), such as laying down one’s life in battle for protection of the realm and order.
Indra addresses the listener and points to a visible, historical example: many kings devoted to royal duty have died in battle. Their deaths are presented as direct evidence that bodily self-sacrifice, when aligned with dharma, is regarded as the supreme form of tyāga.