Shloka 100
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
पशुसख उवाच पशून् रज्जामि दृष्टवाहं पशूनां च सदा सखा | गौणं पशुसखेत्येवं विद्धि मामग्निसम्भवे
Paśusakha uvāca: paśūn rajjāmi dṛṣṭavāhaṃ paśūnāṃ ca sadā sakhā | gauṇaṃ paśusakhety evaṃ viddhi mām agnisambhave ||
पशुसख उवाच—पशून् रज्जामि दृष्ट्वाहं पशूनां च सदा सखा । गौणं पशुसखेत्येवं विद्धि मामग्निसम्भवे ॥
पशुसख उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical ideal: one’s identity and reputation should arise from benevolent conduct—here, kindness and companionship toward animals. The name ‘Paśusakha’ is presented as a gauṇa (attribute-based) epithet grounded in compassionate action.
A speaker named Paśusakha addresses a fire-born being (Kṛtyā), explaining why he is called ‘Paśusakha’: he continually pleases and befriends animals, and his name is derived from this defining trait.