Shloka 37
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
स ददर्श श्वमांसस्य कुतन्त्रीं विततां मुनि: । चाण्डालस्य गृहे राजन् सद्यः शस्त्रहतस्य वै,राजन! इतने हीमें उन्होंने देखा कि चाण्डालके घरमें तुरंतके शस्त्रद्वारा मारे हुए कुत्तेकी जाँघके मांसका एक बड़ा-सा टुकड़ा पड़ा है
sa dadarśa śvamāṃsasya kutantrīṃ vitatāṃ muniḥ | cāṇḍālasya gṛhe rājan sadyaḥ śastrahatasya vai ||
ข้าแต่พระราชา ครั้นนั้นมุนีได้เห็นในเรือนของจัณฑาล มีชิ้นเนื้อสุนัขส่วนต้นขาวางแผ่ไว้ เป็นสุนัขที่เพิ่งถูกอาวุธสังหาร
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up a classic dharma problem: when one faces extreme necessity, the usual rules of purity and social avoidance are tested. It invites reflection on how to weigh competing duties—survival, compassion, and adherence to norms—when circumstances are harsh.
Bhīṣma narrates that a sage comes upon a Caṇḍāla’s house and sees a freshly weapon-killed dog’s flesh laid out. This discovery functions as a narrative trigger for the ensuing ethical discussion about conduct under distress.