Shloka 20
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
श्येन उवाच न वराहं न चोक्षाणं न चान्यान् विविधान् द्विजान् | भ्रक्षयामि महाराज किमन्याद्येन तेन मे
śyena uvāca na varāhaṁ na cokṣāṇaṁ na cānyān vividhān dvijān | bhakṣayāmi mahārāja kim anyādyena tena me ||
Sabi ng lawin: “O dakilang hari, hindi ako kumakain ng baboy-ramo, ni ng baka, ni ng iba pang sari-saring ibon. Bakit ko kukunin ang pagkaing nararapat sa iba at aangkinin bilang akin?”
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues for acting according to one’s own rightful nature and sustenance (svadharma): the hawk refuses foods that are not its proper fare and questions the ethics of taking what belongs to another’s rightful share.
In a dialogue addressed to a king, the hawk explains its dietary rule: it will not eat boar, ox, or other birds; it insists on its own appropriate prey and rejects the idea of appropriating another creature’s rightful food.