Shloka 9
धर्मव्याधोपदेशः
Dharma-vyādha’s Instruction on Śiṣṭācāra and Dharma
अथ श्येनो राजनमब्रवीत्,तदनन्तर बाजने राजासे कहा--“महाराज! प्रायः सभी जीवोंको बारी-बारीसे विभिन्न योनियोंमें जन्म लेकर रहना पड़ता है। मालूम होता है, आप इस सृष्टि-परम्परामें पहले कभी इस कबूतरसे जन्म ग्रहण कर चुके हैं; तभी तो इसे अपने आश्रयमें ले रहे हैं! राजन! मैं आग्रहपर्वूक कहता हूँ, आप इस कबूतरको लेकर मेरे भोजनके कार्यमें विघ्न न डालें"
atha śyeno rājanam abravīt, tad-anantaraṁ rājanam āha— “mahārāja! prāyaḥ sarveṣāṁ jīvānāṁ krameṇa vividhāsu yoniṣu janma grahaṇaṁ bhavati. manye bhavān asyāṁ sṛṣṭi-paramparāyāṁ pūrvaṁ kadācit asmin kapote janma gṛhītavān; tenaiva tvam enaṁ śaraṇam ānayasīva. rājan! ahaṁ dṛḍham āgraheṇa vadāmi— tvam enaṁ kapotaṁ gṛhītvā mama bhojana-kārye vighnaṁ mā kārṣīḥ.”
Então o falcão dirigiu-se ao rei: “Ó grande rei, quase todos os seres devem, por sua vez, nascer em muitos ventres diferentes. Parece que, na sucessão deste mundo, tu já nasceste como esta mesma pomba; só por isso agora a tomas sob tua proteção! Ó rei, digo-o com insistência: não obstruas minha necessidade de alimento por manteres esta pomba contigo.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-conflict: compassion and protection offered to a refugee (the dove) is challenged by another being’s legitimate need to live (the hawk’s hunger). It also invokes rebirth and karmic continuity to intensify the king’s attachment and responsibility, showing how ethical decisions are tested when duties collide.
In Markandeya’s narration, the hawk confronts the king who has granted refuge to a dove. The hawk argues that beings cycle through many births and suggests the king’s special protection may stem from a past-life connection with the dove. It then insists the king should not block the hawk’s right to food by withholding its prey.