Shloka 4
धर्मव्याधोपदेशः
Dharma-vyādha’s Instruction on Śiṣṭācāra and Dharma
अथ पुरोहितो राजानमब्रवीत् । प्राणरक्षार्थ श्येनादू भीतो भवन्तं प्राणार्थी प्रपद्यते,यह देखकर पुरोहितने राजासे कहा--“महाराज! यह कबूतर बाजके डरसे अपने प्राणोंकी रक्षाके लिये आपकी शरणमें आया है। किसी तरह प्राण बच जायँ--यही इसका प्रयोजन है
atha purohito rājānam abravīt | prāṇarakṣārthaṁ śyenād bhīto bhavantaṁ prāṇārthī prapadyate |
Então o sacerdote real dirigiu-se ao rei: “Ó Rei, esta pomba, aterrorizada pelo falcão, veio a ti buscar refúgio para salvar a vida. Seu único propósito é preservar o fôlego—sobreviver, de algum modo.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
One who seeks refuge out of fear for life becomes a protected dependent; dharma calls upon the powerful—especially a king—to offer shelter and safeguard the vulnerable, even amid competing claims.
The priest explains to the king that a pigeon, fleeing a hawk, has come to the king for protection. The scene sets up a moral dilemma about refuge, protection, and the king’s obligation to uphold dharma.