Shloka 6
Aṣṭāvakra–Kahoda Upākhyāna: Śvetaketu’s Āśrama, Sarasvatī, and the Origin of Aṣṭāvakra
यो हि कश्रिद् द्विजान् हन्याद् गां वा लोकस्य मातरम् । शरणागतं च त्यजते तुल्यं तेषां हि पातकम्,बाज! देखो तो यह बेचारा कबूतर किस प्रकार भयसे व्याकुल हो थर-थर काँप रहा है। इसने अपने प्राणोंकी रक्षाके लिये ही मेरी शरण ली है। ऐसी दशामें इसे त्याग देना बड़ी ही निन्दाकी बात है। जो मनुष्य ब्राह्मणोंकी हत्या करता है, जो जगन्माता गौका वध करता है तथा जो शरणमें आये हुए को त्याग देता है, इन तीनोंको समान पाप लगता है
yo hi kaścid dvijān hanyād gāṁ vā lokasya mātaram | śaraṇāgataṁ ca tyajate tulyaṁ teṣāṁ hi pātakam, bāja ||
Wika ng lawin: “Sinumang pumatay sa isang Brahmin, o pumatay sa baka—ina ng sanlibutan—o tumalikod sa taong dumulog upang magkanlong: iisa ang bigat ng kasalanan ng mga iyon. Tingnan mo ang kawawang kalapating ito, nanginginig sa takot; lumapit lamang ito sa akin upang iligtas ang sariling buhay. Sa gayong kalagayan, ang itaboy ito ay lubhang kapintasan.”
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Abandoning a person (or creature) who has sought refuge is presented as a grave adharma, equated in moral weight with killing a Brahmin or slaughtering a cow. The verse elevates the duty of protection (rakṣaṇa) and fidelity to refuge (śaraṇāgata-dharma) as a paramount ethical obligation.
The hawk argues a moral point by comparing sins: it insists that rejecting a refuge-seeker is severely blameworthy. In context, it points to the frightened pigeon that has sought protection, using the pigeon’s fear and dependence to underscore the seriousness of abandoning one who has come for safety.