Shloka 28
Aṣṭāvakra–Kahoda Upākhyāna: Śvetaketu’s Āśrama, Sarasvatī, and the Origin of Aṣṭāvakra
न विद्यते यदा मांसं कपोतेन सम॑ धृतम् । तत उत्कृत्तमांसोडसावारुरोह स्वयं तुलाम्
na vidyate yadā māṁsaṁ kapotena samaṁ dhṛtam | tata utkṛttamāṁso 'sāv āruroha svayaṁ tulām |
Lomaśa nói: “Khi phần thịt đã cắt vẫn không thể bằng trọng lượng con bồ câu, vị vua ấy—sau bao lần tự cắt thịt mình—cuối cùng đã tự bước lên bàn cân.”
लोगमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as steadfast protection and compassion: when a vow to shelter the weak conflicts with personal safety, the righteous king chooses self-sacrifice rather than abandon the one who sought refuge.
In the famous Śibi/Uśīnara episode, the king tries to compensate for a pigeon’s life by placing his own flesh on a scale. When the flesh still does not balance the pigeon’s weight, he finally steps onto the scale himself, offering his entire body to uphold his promise.