Shloka 13
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
इन्द्र रवाच शुना दृष्ट क्रोधवशा हरन्ति यद्दत्तमिष्टं विवृतमथो हुतं च । तस्माच्छुनस्त्यागमिमं कुरुष्व शुनस्त्यागाद् प्राप्स्यसे देवलोकम्
indra uvāca—śunā dṛṣṭāḥ krodhavaśā haranti yad dattam iṣṭaṁ vivṛtam atho hutaṁ ca | tasmāc chunas tyāgam imaṁ kuruṣva śunas tyāgād prāpsyase devalokam ||
因陀罗说道：“若有一犬，哪怕仅以目光掠过人以功德所积之物——所施之布施、所献之祭祀、所诵之圣学、所投于火之供养——名为‘Krodhavaśa’的魔类便会因嗔怒夺去其业果。故当舍此犬。唯有弃犬，汝方能至诸天之界。”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral dilemma: heavenly reward is offered on the condition of abandoning a dependent creature. Indra’s argument appeals to ritual purity and preservation of merit’s fruit, while the broader episode tests whether dharma is merely ritual success or steadfast compassion and fidelity to those who seek refuge.
At the threshold of heaven, Indra addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and urges him to leave behind the dog that has accompanied him. Indra claims that a dog’s gaze causes the fruits of charity, sacrifice, sacred recitation, and fire-offerings to be stolen by beings called Krodhavaśa, and therefore Yudhiṣṭhira must abandon the dog to enter Devaloka.