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Shloka 23

कपिलगोसंवादे गृहस्थ-त्यागधर्मयोः प्रमाण्यविचारः

Kapila–Cow Dialogue: Authority of Householder and Renunciant Dharmas

अतीतास्वथ वर्षासु शरत्काल उपस्थिते । प्राजापत्येन विधिना विश्वासात्‌ काममोहितौ,राजन! धीरे-धीरे वर्षा-ऋतु बीत गयी और शरत्काल उपस्थित हुआ। उस समय कामसे मोहित होकर उन गौरैयोंने संतानोत्पादनकी विधिसे परस्पर समागम किया और विश्वासके कारण महर्षिके सिरपर ही अण्डे दिये। कठोर व्रतका पालन करनेवाले उन तेजस्वी ब्राह्मणको यह मालूम हो गया कि पक्षियोंने मेरी जटाओंमें अण्डे दिये हैं

atītāsv atha varṣāsu śaratkāla upasthite | prājāpatyena vidhinā viśvāsāt kāmamohitau, rājan |

ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “ข้าแต่พระราชา ครั้นฤดูฝนล่วงไปและฤดูสารทมาถึง นกกระจอกคู่นั้นซึ่งหลงใหลด้วยกาม ก็ร่วมสืบพันธุ์กันตามระเบียบที่พระปรชาบดีทรงกำหนดไว้ ด้วยความไว้วางใจในฤๅษี พวกมันถึงกับวางไข่ไว้บนศีรษะของท่าน พราหมณ์ผู้รุ่งเรือง ผู้เคร่งครัดในพรต ย่อมรู้ได้ว่าเหล่านกได้ฝากไข่ไว้ในมวยผมชฎาของตน”

अतीतासुwhen (they) had passed
अतीतासु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअतीत (√इ + अति, क्त)
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
वर्षासुin the rainy seasons / rains
वर्षासु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवर्षा
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
शरत्कालःthe autumn season
शरत्कालः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशरत्काल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उपस्थितेwhen (it) had arrived / on the arrival (of)
उपस्थिते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootउपस्थित (उप-√स्था, क्त)
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
प्राजापत्येनby the Prajāpatya (procreative) (rule)
प्राजापत्येन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राजापत्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
विधिनाby the method / according to the rule
विधिना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootविधि
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
विश्वासात्from trust / due to confidence
विश्वासात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootविश्वास
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
काममोहितौthe two, deluded by desire
काममोहितौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकाम-मोहित (√मुह, क्त)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
R
Rājan (Yudhiṣṭhira, addressed as king)
S
sparrows (gौरैयाँ)
A
a vow-observing brāhmaṇa/maharṣi (ascetic sage)
J
jaṭā (matted locks)
E
eggs (aṇḍa)
V
Varṣā-ṛtu (rainy season)
Ś
Śarat-kāla (autumn)

Educational Q&A

The passage highlights how steadfastness in vows and harmlessness can generate trust even among animals; it also frames procreation as a natural, Prajāpati-ordained order, while implicitly praising restraint and responsibility in the face of desire.

As the seasons change from rains to autumn, a pair of sparrows, driven by desire, mate and—trusting an unmoving ascetic—lay their eggs on his head, in his matted locks; the vow-keeping sage becomes aware of this.