Shloka 13
नाब्राह्मण: कृपणो जातु जीवेद् याच्ञापि स्याद् ब्राह्मणी वीरपत्नी । सो<हं नैवाकृतपूर्व चरेय॑ विधित्समान: किमु तत्र साधु,जो ब्राह्मण नहीं है, उसे दीन याचक बनकर कभी जीवन नहीं बिताना चाहिये। याचना तो विद्यासे दिग्विजय करनेवाले विद्वान ब्राह्मणकी पत्नी है अर्थात ब्रह्मवेत्ता ब्राह्मणको ही याचना करनेका अधिकार है। मुझे उत्तम सत्कर्म करनेकी इच्छा है; अतः ऐसा कोई कार्य कैसे कर सकता हूँ, जो पहले कभी नहीं किया हो
nābrāhmaṇaḥ kṛpaṇo jātu jīved yācñāpi syād brāhmaṇī vīrapatnī | so 'haṃ naivākṛtapūrvaṃ careyaṃ vidhitsamānaḥ kim u tatra sādhu ||
Wika ni Aṣṭaka: “Ang hindi brāhmaṇa ay hindi dapat mamuhay kailanman bilang abang pulubi. Ang pamamalimos bilang isang disiplina ng pamumuhay ay nauukol sa sambahayan ng brāhmaṇa—tunay nga, sa asawa ng isang magiting at marunong na brāhmaṇa—sapagkat tanging ang nakakakilala sa Brahman ang may karapatang magsagawa ng gayong pagtalima. Nais kong gawin ang tunay na mabuti at matuwid; paano ko nga magagawa ang isang bagay na hindi ko pa kailanman naisagawa?”
अष्टक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses propriety of conduct (dharma) according to one’s station and training: adopting begging as a livelihood is portrayed as a regulated discipline associated with brāhmaṇas, not a desperate habit for others. Aṣṭaka emphasizes integrity—seeking ‘sādhu’ (the right/good) and refusing to take up an unpracticed, unsuitable means of living.
Aṣṭaka is reflecting on what course of action is appropriate for him. He rejects the idea of living by begging, arguing that such a practice is traditionally tied to brāhmaṇa life and discipline, and he insists on choosing a path consistent with righteous intention and his own established conduct.