Shloka 6
युधिष्ठिरप्रश्नः—विश्वामित्रस्य ब्राह्मणत्वकौतूहलम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Viśvāmitra’s Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
इतना ही नहीं, इस मनुष्य-लोकमें उन्होंने उस महान् कुशिक-वंशको स्थापित किया जो अब सैकड़ों ब्रह्मर्षियोंसे व्याप्त और दिद्वान ब्राह्मणोंसे प्रशंसित है ।।
ṛcīkasyātmajaś caiva śunaḥśepo mahātapāḥ | vimokṣito mahāsatrāt paśutām apy upāgataḥ ||
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: «At si Śunaḥśepa, anak ni R̥cīka, ang dakilang asceta—bagaman dinala na sa dakilang pagtitipong handog bilang alay na biktima—ay pinalaya mula sa maringal na ritong iyon.» Ipinapaalala ng siping ito na ang taong ibinaba sa antas ng “hayop na panghandog” ay naibabalik sa dangal sa pamamagitan ng pakikialam ng matuwid na rishi, at itinatampok na ang habag at pag-iingat sa buhay ay higit na utos ng dharma kaysa sa pagkumpleto ng ritwal.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual action is not supreme when it violates higher dharma: compassion, protection of life, and restoring a person’s dignity outweigh the mere completion of a sacrifice.
Yudhiṣṭhira recalls Śunaḥśepa, son of Ṛcīka, who was brought to a great sacrificial session as a victim; despite being treated as a sacrificial animal, he was freed from the rite—an example of righteous intervention overriding harmful ritual necessity.