Shloka 17
Adhyāya 3: Indra’s Invitation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Refusal to Abandon the Dog
Svargārohaṇa Test
शरणमें आये हुए को भय देना, स्त्रीका वध करना, ब्राह्मणका धन लूटना और मित्रोंके साथ द्रोह करना--ये चार अधर्म एक ओर और भक्तका त्याग दूसरी ओर हो तो मेरी समझमें यह अकेला ही उन चारोंके बराबर है ।।
śaraṇam āgatam abhayaṃ dātum; strī-vadhaḥ, brāhmaṇa-dhana-haraṇam, mitra-drohaś ca—ete catvāro 'dharmā ekataḥ; bhaktasya tyāgaḥ punar ekataḥ. mama mate sa eko 'pi teṣāṃ catūrṇāṃ samānaḥ. vaiśampāyana uvāca—tad dharmarājasya vaco niśamya dharma-svarūpī bhagavān uvāca. yudhiṣṭhiraṃ prīti-yukto narendraṃ ślakṣṇair vākyaiḥ saṃstava-samprayuktaiḥ…
郁提希提罗说道：“恐吓来投靠求庇护者、杀害妇女、掠夺婆罗门之财、背叛友人——此四种不义在一边；而另一边，则是弃绝一位虔信者。依我之见，此一事便足以与那四者相等。” 毗湿摩波耶那说道：“迦那弥阇耶王啊，法王郁提希提罗此言一出，那位本身即是法的主宰——以犬形而来——大为欢喜。他以柔和而赞叹的言辞称颂郁提希提罗王，并对他说道……”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Protecting one who seeks refuge and remaining loyal to a devoted companion are presented as paramount duties. The verse ranks ‘abandoning a devotee’ as a moral failure so severe that it is equated with multiple major transgressions, underscoring steadfastness, compassion, and fidelity as central to dharma.
After Yudhiṣṭhira refuses to forsake the dog that has accompanied him, Vaiśampāyana reports that Dharma—who had come disguised as a dog to test him—hears Yudhiṣṭhira’s words, becomes pleased, and begins to praise and address him with gentle, approving speech.