Shloka 27
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
सराजा पार्श्वतश्चैव बाहुभ्यामूरुतश्च॒ यत्,राजा अपनी पसलियों, भुजाओं और जाँघोंसे मांस काटकर जल्दी-जल्दी तराजू भरने लगे। तथापि वह मांसराशि उस कबूतरके बराबर नहीं हुई
sa rājā pārśvataś caiva bāhubhyām ūrutaś ca yat |
Nhà vua bắt đầu cắt thịt từ sườn, từ cánh tay và từ đùi mình, vội vã đổ vào đĩa cân như đã hứa. Thế nhưng dù chất lên bao nhiêu thịt, trọng lượng vẫn không bằng con bồ câu ấy.
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is to protect one who seeks refuge, even at great personal cost. The scene emphasizes that ethical duty is not satisfied by superficial equivalence; true commitment may demand complete self-offering and steadfast adherence to one’s vow.
In the hawk-and-dove episode narrated by the hawk (śyena), the king tries to save the dove by offering his own flesh in exchange. He cuts flesh from his body to fill the scale, but the flesh still does not match the dove’s weight, intensifying the test of the king’s resolve and compassion.