Shloka 23
धर्मव्याधोपदेशः
Dharma-vyādha’s Instruction on Śiṣṭācāra and Dharma
अथ राजा स्वयमेव तुलामारुरोह । न च व्यलीकमासीदू् राज्ञ एतद् वृत्तान्तं दृष्टवा त्रात इत्युक्त्वा प्रालीयत श्येनो5थ राजा अब्रवीत्,तब राजा स्वयं ही तराजूपर चढ़ गये। ऐसा करते समय उनके मनमें क्लेश नहीं हुआ। यह घटना देखकर बाज बोल उठा--'हो गयी कबूतरकी प्राणरक्षा।/ ऐसा कहकर वह वहीं अन्तर्धान हो गया। अब राजा शिबि कबूतरसे बोले--
atha rājā svayam eva tulām āruroha | na ca vyalīkam āsīd rājña etad vṛttāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā trāta ity uktvā prālīyata śyeno 'tha rājā 'bravīt |
Então o rei subiu ele mesmo à balança. E, ao fazê-lo, não havia nele engano nem relutância interior. Vendo isso, o falcão bradou: “A vida da pomba foi salva!”, e, dito isso, desapareceu no mesmo instante. Depois, o rei Śibi falou à pomba.
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is tested through impartial compassion and truthfulness: Śibi protects the refugee (the dove) without deceit or hesitation, even at personal cost, showing that ethical duty is fulfilled through sincere self-offering rather than clever evasion.
The king steps onto the weighing scale himself to uphold his promise in the hawk–dove episode. Seeing the king’s genuine, non-deceptive resolve, the hawk declares the dove saved and then disappears; the king then addresses the dove.