Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 7
शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः
Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse
त्वं मे नाथो ह्यनाथस्य भव भव्येन चेतसा।पितेव पुत्रं धर्मात्मं स्त्रातुमर्हसि किल्बिषात्।।।।
tvaṃ me nātho hy anāthasya bhava bhavyena cetasā | pitevā putraṃ dharmātmāṃ strātum arhasi kilbiṣāt ||
Ngài là chỗ nương tựa của con, kẻ không nơi nương tựa. Xin làm đấng chủ tể của con với tâm lành, đầy từ mẫn; ô bậc sống theo Chánh pháp, như cha cứu con trai, xin Ngài cứu con khỏi tội lỗi và tai ách.
O Virtuous one! with a kind heart protect this orphan. Like a father who protects his son, save me from this peril".
FAQs
The dharma highlighted is protection of the helpless (anātha) and honoring refuge-seeking (śaraṇāgati). A righteous person is expected to act like a father—using compassion and moral responsibility to save another from wrongdoing and danger.
Śunaḥśepha, facing a sacrificial threat and moral peril, appeals to Viśvāmitra for refuge and rescue, framing the request as a duty of a dharmic protector.
Viśvāmitra’s expected virtue is karuṇā (compassion) guided by dharma—protecting one who has surrendered and preventing him from falling into ‘kilbiṣa’ (sin/culpability).