Shloka 55
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
यथावत् सर्वभूग ब्रह्मा तथा मां विद्धि धर्मत: । “अग्निदेव देवताओंके मुख हैं, पुरोहित हैं, पवित्र द्रव्य ही ग्रहण करते हैं और महान् प्रभावशाली हैं तथापि वे जैसे अवस्थाके अनुसार सर्वभक्षी हो गये हैं, उसी प्रकार मैं ब्राह्मण होकर भी सर्वभक्षी बनूँगा; अतः तुम धर्मतः मुझे ब्राह्मण ही समझो” ।।
yathāvat sarvabhūg brahmā tathā māṁ viddhi dharmataḥ | agnidevo devatānāṁ mukhaṁ purohitaḥ pavitra-dravya-grahī mahān prabhāvavān tathāpi yathāvasthānusāreṇa sarvabhakṣo bhūtaḥ, tathāham api brāhmaṇo bhūtvā sarvabhakṣo bhaviṣyāmi; ataḥ tvaṁ dharmataḥ mām brāhmaṇam eva jānīhi || tam uvāca sa cāṇḍālo maharṣe śṛṇu me vacaḥ ||
当依达摩而知我：我如梵天（Brahmā），据说能摄受一切众生。阿耆尼虽为诸天之口、为其祭司，只受清净供物，且威力广大，然而随境遇亦会成为“无所不食”者。同样，我虽为婆罗门，也将成为无所不食之人；故依达摩，你们仍当视我为婆罗门。于是旃陀罗答道：“大圣仙啊，请听我之言。”
घपच उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage argues that dharma can recognize inner status and intention even when outward conduct is forced by circumstance. By citing Agni—normally the pure receiver of offerings—becoming ‘all-consuming’ depending on conditions, it frames a doctrine of āpaddharma: in extremity, actions that appear impure may not negate one’s dharmic identity when undertaken under compulsion and with right understanding.
A speaker defends being regarded as a brāhmaṇa ‘according to dharma’ despite becoming ‘all-eating’ due to circumstances, using Agni as an analogy. Immediately after, a Caṇḍāla responds to the sage, indicating a debate or ethical confrontation where social identity, purity rules, and dharmic judgment are being tested.