Shloka 3
कुण्डधारोपाख्यानम्
Kuṇḍadhāra-Upākhyāna: Dharma’s Superiority over Wealth and Desire
आह़यैनान् महाब्रह्मन् विशमानांस्ततस्तत: । पश्येमान् हस्तपादैश्न श्लिष्टान् देहेषु सर्वश:,ब्रह्मन! ये यत्र-तत्र घोंसलोंमें घुस रहे हैं। देखो, इन सबके हाथ-पैर सिकुड़कर शरीरोंसे सट गये हैं। इन सबको बुलाकर पूछो
āhvayainān mahābrahman viśamānāṁs tataḥ tataḥ | paśyemān hastapādaiś ca śliṣṭān deheṣu sarvaśaḥ ||
Chulādhāra nói: “Hỡi đại brāhmaṇa, hãy gọi những sinh vật này—những kẻ đang lẩn vào chỗ này chỗ kia. Hãy nhìn: khắp nơi, khi chui vào các nơi trú ẩn của mình, tay chân chúng đều co rút và ép sát vào thân. Hãy triệu chúng đến và hỏi chúng.”
चुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges careful observation and inquiry: by attentively watching how beings protect themselves and move through the world, one can question and learn about their nature and the ethical implications of one’s actions toward them.
Chulādhāra addresses a Brāhmaṇa and points out creatures entering their shelters, with limbs drawn in close to their bodies. He asks the Brāhmaṇa to call them and question them, setting up a reflective, didactic exchange.