Shloka 61
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
वसिष्ठ उवाच नैतस्थेह यथास्माकमग्निहोत्रमनिर्ठठतम् । सायं प्रातश्न होतव्यं तेन पीवाउ्छुना सह
Vasiṣṭha uvāca: na etat stheha yathāsmākam agnihotram aniṣṭhitam | sāyaṃ prātaś ca hotavyaṃ tena pīvā ucchunā saha ||
وسِشٹھ نے کہا—“اسے ہماری طرح یہ فکر نہیں کہ آج اگنی ہوتَر ادا نہ ہوا اور صبح و شام اسے کرنا لازم ہے؛ اسی لیے کتے کی صحبت میں رہ کر یہ خوب فربہ اور تندرست ہو گیا ہے۔”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts the conscientious performance of daily Vedic duties (Agnihotra at dawn and dusk) with a life of negligence and indulgence; ethical steadiness is shown through fidelity to prescribed responsibilities rather than comfort-seeking.
Vasiṣṭha remarks that someone lacks the anxiety felt by disciplined practitioners when a daily rite is missed; instead, by associating with a dog and living without such obligations, he has become well-fed and complacent.