Hitopdesh • Chapter 2 • Shloka 58
गृध्रो ब्रूते -- ब्रूहि किमर्थमागतोऽसि ।
सोऽवदत् -- अहमत्र गङ्गातीरे नित्यस्नायी
ब्रह्मचारी चान्द्रायणव्रतमाचरंस्तिष्ठामि ।
यूयं धर्मज्ञानरता इति विश्वासभूमयः पक्षिणः सर्वे
सर्वदा ममाग्रे प्रस्तुवन्ति । अतो भवद्भ्यो विद्यावयोवृद्धेभ्यो
धर्मं श्रोतुमिहागतः ।
भवन्तश्चैतादृशा धर्मज्ञाः यन्मामतिथिं हन्तुमुद्यताः ।
गृहस्थधर्मश्चैषः अरावप्युचितं कार्यमातिथ्यं गृहमागते ।
छेत्तुः पार्श्वगतां छायां नोपसंहरते द्रुमः ॥
The Vulture said - Explain why you have come here. The cat replied - I dwell here on the bank of the Ganges, bathing every day, living a life of celibacy and practising the vow of Chandrayana. All birds, worthy of confidence, always declare before me that you are devoted to the study of dharmic law. Hence did I come here to hear from you, who are advanced both in knowledge and years (lit. old both as regards knowledge and age), the holy law. But your honour is so well versed in that law that you are ready to kill me, a guest. While the duty of a householder is this - Fitting hospitality should be shown even to a foe coming to the house, the tree withdraws not its shade from its cutter.
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