Shloka 28
Śama-prāptiḥ — Gautamī–Lubdhaka–Pannaga–Mṛtyu–Kāla-saṃvāda
Restraint through the Analysis of Karma and Time
लुब्धक उवाच हत्वा लाभ: श्रेय एवाव्यय: स्या- ल्लभ्यो लाभ्य: स्याद् बलिभ्य: प्रशस्त: । कालाल्लाभो यस्तु सत्यो भवेत श्रेयोलाभ: कुत्सिते5स्मिन्न ते स््थात्
lubdhaka uvāca | hatvā lābhaḥ śreya evāvyayaḥ syāl labhyo lābhyaḥ syād balibhyaḥ praśastaḥ | kālāl lābho yas tu satyo bhavet śreyolābhaḥ kutsite 'sminn te sthāt ||
Sinabi ng mangangaso: “Ang pagpatay rito ay magiging pakinabang—isang kabutihang di nauubos—sapagkat magdudulot ito ng kapakinabangan sa marami. Ang pagkuha ng tubo sa pamamagitan ng lakas mula sa malalakas ay pinupuri bilang pinakamainam na pakinabang. Ang pakinabang na nagmumula lamang sa Panahon (tadhana) ang siyang tunay na pakinabang. Sa pagpapabuhay sa hamak na ahas na ito, walang kabutihang darating sa iyo.”
लुब्धक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The hunter argues that an action is justified if it produces broad welfare (killing the serpent benefits many), and he frames “true gain” as what aligns with inevitability (kāla) and practical advantage—though his reasoning also reveals a morally troubling praise of force and profit.
A hunter addresses a woman (“Devi,” implied by the Hindi gloss) and urges her to kill a serpent, claiming that sparing such a vile creature brings her no benefit, while killing it would secure an enduring good for many.