Shloka 10
धर्मव्याधोपदेशः
Dharma-vyādha’s Instruction on Śiṣṭācāra and Dharma
पर्यायेण वसतिर्वा भवेषु सर्गे ज्ञात: पूर्वमस्मात् कपोतात् । त्वमाददानो5थ कपोतमेनं मा त्वं राजन् विघ्नकर्ता भवेथा:,तदनन्तर बाजने राजासे कहा--“महाराज! प्रायः सभी जीवोंको बारी-बारीसे विभिन्न योनियोंमें जन्म लेकर रहना पड़ता है। मालूम होता है, आप इस सृष्टि-परम्परामें पहले कभी इस कबूतरसे जन्म ग्रहण कर चुके हैं; तभी तो इसे अपने आश्रयमें ले रहे हैं! राजन! मैं आग्रहपर्वूक कहता हूँ, आप इस कबूतरको लेकर मेरे भोजनके कार्यमें विघ्न न डालें"
paryāyeṇa vasatir vā bhaveṣu sarge jñātaḥ pūrvam asmāt kapotāt | tvam ādadāno 'tha kapotam enaṃ mā tvaṃ rājan vighnakartā bhavethāḥ ||
Wika ni Mārkaṇḍeya: “Sa pag-ikot ng paglalang, ang mga nilalang ay kailangang manahan nang paulit-ulit sa iba’t ibang anyo ng pag-iral, na salit-salitang isinisilang sa sari-saring sinapupunan. Tila sa isang dating siklo ng daigdig na ito, ikaw mismo ay minsang ipinanganak bilang mismong kalapating ito—kaya ngayon ay kinukupkop mo siya. Kaya, O hari, mariin kong hinihiling: huwag sanang, sa pag-iingat mo sa kalapating ito, maging hadlang ka sa aking pagkuha ng pagkain.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames moral conflict through the lens of saṃsāra: beings cycle through births, and past connections can shape present duties. It highlights a tension between compassion/protection (sheltering the pigeon) and another party’s survival need, urging careful discernment so that one’s chosen duty does not unjustly obstruct another’s legitimate need.
Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a king who is taking a pigeon under his protection. He suggests the king may have a past-life connection with the pigeon, explaining the king’s impulse to shelter it, and then warns the king not to let that protection become an obstacle to the speaker’s obtaining food.