Shloka 34
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
शरणागतेषु चैवं त्वं कुरु सर्व युधिष्ठिर
śyena uvāca | śaraṇāgateṣu caivaṁ tvaṁ kuru sarvaṁ yudhiṣṭhira | yudhiṣṭhira! tvam api śaraṇāgatānāṁ kṛte evam eva svam sarvasvaṁ nicchāvaraṁ kuru | yo manuṣyaḥ svabhakta-premi-śaraṇāgata-puruṣāṇāṁ rakṣāṁ karoti tathā sarva-prāṇiṣu dayāṁ dhatte sa paraloke sukhaṁ prāpnoti |
Wika ng Lawin: “Gayon din, O Yudhiṣṭhira, kumilos ka sa ganitong paraan sa mga lumalapit upang humingi ng kanlungan. O Yudhiṣṭhira, para sa mga sumuko at naghanap ng silong, ialay mo rin maging ang buo mong pag-aari—na walang itinatago. Ang taong nagtatanggol sa kanyang mga deboto, sa mga nagmamahal sa kanya, at sa mga dumudulog upang magpasaklolo, at may habag sa lahat ng nilalang, ay nagkakamit ng ligaya sa daigdig na darating.”
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should protect those who seek refuge—even at great personal cost—and cultivate compassion toward all beings; such conduct is presented as dharmic and as leading to happiness in the afterlife.
The Hawk addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, urging him to emulate the ideal of total commitment to protecting suppliants, framing refuge-protection and universal compassion as the ethical standard for a righteous person (especially a ruler).