Shloka 3

धर्मव्याधोपदेशः

Dharma-vyādha’s Instruction on Śiṣṭācāra and Dharma

Devanagari script

अथ कपोतो राज्ञो दिव्यासनासीनस्योत्सड्रं न्‍्यपतत्‌,राजा शिबि अपने दिव्य सिंहासनपर बैठे हुए थे। कबूतर उनकी गोदमें जा गिरा

Transliteration

atha kapotaḥ rājñaḥ divyāsanāsīnasya utsaṅgaṁ nyapatat |

Translation

于是，那鸽子忽然坠入尸毗王的膝上；当时国王端坐于辉煌如天的宝座之上——它在王权之座前求庇护，正是在此处，护生与正法将受考验。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• कपोतः: the pigeon/dove
• कपोतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• दिव्य-आसन-आसीनस्य: of (him) seated on a divine seat/throne
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्यासनासीन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• उत्सङ्गम्: lap
• उत्सङ्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न्यपतत्: fell down (into)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• King Śibi
• dove (kapota)
• divine throne (divyāsana)
• lap (utsaṅga)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The episode frames the king’s dharma as protection of those who seek refuge, even when doing so invites danger or personal loss; true righteousness is tested when the vulnerable arrive unexpectedly.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that while King Śibi is seated on a divine throne, a dove suddenly drops into his lap—an act that signals a plea for shelter and sets up a moral trial for the king.