Shloka 24
Śibi’s Weighing of Dharma
The Hawk and the Dove Trial) — शिबेर्धर्मतुला (श्येन-कपोतोक्तिः
Devanagari script
ऊरू राज्ञ: समासाद्य कपोत: श्येनजाद भयात् । शरणार्थी तदा राजन् निलिल्ये भयपीडित:,अपनी रक्षाके लिये आश्रय चाहनेवाला कबूतर बाजके भयसे डरकर राजाकी गोदीमें जा छिपा
Transliteration
ūrū rājñaḥ samāsādya kapotaḥ śyenajād bhayāt | śaraṇārthī tadā rājan nililye bhayapīḍitaḥ ||
Translation
鸽子因惧鹰隼之追迫，奔至国王双膝（怀中）而伏。求庇护者啊，王者，它在恐惧压迫下藏身其间。
Word by Word
ऊरूthe two thighs (lap)
ऊरू:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootऊरु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Dual
राज्ञःof the king
राज्ञः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
समासाद्यhaving approached / reaching
समासाद्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-आ-√सद्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite (prior action)
कपोतःthe pigeon
कपोतः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकपोत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्येनजात्from the hawk
श्येनजात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootश्येन
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
भयात्from fear / out of fear
भयात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootभय
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
शरणार्थीseeking refuge
शरणार्थी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशरणार्थिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
राजन्O king
राजन्:
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
निलिल्येtook shelter / hid
निलिल्ये:
TypeVerb
Rootनि-√ली
FormPerfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Atmanepada
भयपीडितःtormented by fear
भयपीडितः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभयपीडित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
लोगश उवाच
Characters & Entities
K
King (rājā)P
Pigeon (kapota)H
Hawk (śyena)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes granting refuge to the frightened and helpless; once someone seeks shelter, the protector is ethically bound to safeguard them, even amid competing claims.
A pigeon, pursued by a hawk, escapes and takes shelter in the king’s lap, explicitly becoming a refugee under royal protection and setting up a moral test of rājadharma.