Shloka 38
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
स चिन्तयामास तदा स्तैन्यं कार्यमितो मया । न हीदानीमुपायो मे विद्यते प्राणधारणे,तब मुनिने सोचा कि “मुझे यहाँसे इस मांसकी चोरी करनी चाहिये; क्योंकि इस समय मेरे लिये अपने प्राणोंकी रक्षाका दूसरा कोई उपाय नहीं है
sa cintayāmāsa tadā stainyaṃ kāryam ito mayā | na hīdānīm upāyo me vidyate prāṇadhāraṇe ||
அப்போது அவன் மனத்தில் எண்ணினான்— “இங்கே நான் திருட வேண்டியதே; இந்நேரத்தில் என் உயிரைக் காக்க வேறு வழி எனக்கில்லை।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: when survival is threatened, the mind may justify adharma (theft) as ‘necessary.’ It invites reflection on how necessity, intention, and available alternatives affect moral responsibility.
A person (described in the surrounding context as a muni) is in a life-threatening situation and concludes that stealing (specifically, taking meat) is the only way to stay alive, and he resolves to do it.