Shloka 30
Aṣṭāvakra–Kahoda Upākhyāna: Śvetaketu’s Āśrama, Sarasvatī, and the Origin of Aṣṭāvakra
बाज बोला--धर्मज्ञ नरेश! मैं इन्द्र हूँ और यह कबूतर साक्षात् अग्निदेव हैं। हम दोनों आपके धर्मकी परीक्षा लेनेके लिये इस यज्ञशालामें आपके निकट आये थे ।। यत् ते मांसानि गात्रेभ्य उत्कृत्तानि विशाम्पते । एषा ते भास्वती कीर्तिलोकानभिभविष्यति,प्रजानाथ! आपने अपने अंगोंसे जो मांस काटकर चढ़ाये हैं, उससे फैली हुई आपकी प्रकाशमान कीर्ति सम्पूर्ण लोगोंसे बढ़कर होगी
śyena uvāca — dharmajña nareśa! ahaṃ indraḥ, ayaṃ ca kapotaḥ sākṣād agnidevaḥ. āvām ubhau tava dharmaparīkṣārthaṃ asyāṃ yajñaśālāyāṃ tava samīpam āgatāv. yat te māṃsāni gātrebhya utkṛttāni viśāmpate, eṣā te bhāsvatī kīrtiḥ lokān abhibhaviṣyati prajānātha.
O falcão disse: “Ó rei, conhecedor do dharma! Eu sou Indra, e esta pomba é o próprio Agni. Nós dois viemos a ti neste salão sacrificial para provar tua retidão. Ó senhor dos povos, a carne que cortaste de teus próprios membros e ofereceste tornar-se-á para ti uma fama radiante, superior à de todos os demais.”
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is demonstrated through costly compassion and steadfast protection of the vulnerable, even when it demands personal loss; such integrity becomes enduring kīrti (renown).
The hawk reveals that it is Indra and the dove is Agni; they had come to the king’s sacrificial hall to test him. Indra praises the king’s act of cutting flesh from his own body to uphold his promise and protect the dove, declaring that this sacrifice will make his fame shine above all.