Shloka 8
शकुनि (हिरण्मय-पक्षी) उपदेशः — Vighasāśin and the Difficulty of Gārhasthya
उस पक्षीने कहा--अरे! देहमें कीचड़ लपेटे और धूल पोते हुए जूठन खानेवाले तुम- जैसे मूर्खोकी मैं प्रशंसा नहीं कर रहा हूँ। विघसाशी तो दूसरे ही होते हैं ।।
śakuna uvāca—are! dehe paṅka-liptaḥ dhūli-digdhāḥ ucchiṣṭa-bhojinaḥ yūyam; tādṛśān mūḍhān ahaṃ na praśaṃsāmi. vighasāśinaḥ tu anye eva bhavanti. ṛṣaya ūcuḥ—idaṃ śreyaḥ param iti vayam eva abhyupāsmahe. śakune brūhi yat śreyaḥ; bhṛśaṃ te śraddadhāmahe.
那鸟说道：“喂！你们这些身上糊着泥、覆着尘土、靠残余为生的人——像你们这般愚者，我并不称赞。真正配得上‘毗伽沙食者’之名的，是另有其人。”仙人们答道：“我们之所以行此道，只因相信它是至上的善。鸟啊，请告诉我们你所认为真正有益的正法；我们深信你的言语。”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
External austerity or a label like ‘vighasāśin’ is not automatically praiseworthy; true virtue is defined by the genuine ethical meaning of the practice. The sages therefore seek clarification of what truly constitutes śreyas (the highest good).
A speaking bird rebukes sages who claim a certain ascetic status, saying they do not deserve that praise. The sages respond respectfully, stating they have followed their path believing it to be best, and ask the bird to explain what dharma and true benefit really are.