[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021) › c6.s3.44 # Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c6.s3.44 Vāda in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c6.s3.44 - **Language:** English ### [c6.s3.44](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c6.s3.44) One of the most crucial debates in \*Mahābhārata\* occurs when Viśvāmitra, facing death out of starvation, stole dog’s meat from the house of an untouchable (\*cāṇḍāla\*), just to keep himself alive in the days of famine. Caught red-handed in this act, he is questioned about the propriety of his action, which is so unbecoming of him, by the \*cāṇḍāla\*, who appears to be more concerned about the loss of \*dharma\* which this theft would cause for the noble sage. The whole episode presents a feast of arguments and counter-arguments in the prolonged debate between the sage and the untouchable. It examines a man’s action in utter crisis with an analysis of his choice between his own death and a harmless sin. \*Cāṇḍāla\* starts preaching the sage on the importance of saving the \*dharma\*. “This act of yours would not be called a sin had it been to save some other person” — he says. Viśvāmitra retorts by saying that his own body is his friend, and allowing this friend to die out of hunger would cause a bigger loss of \*dharma\* to him than the sinful act of stealth.⁷⁵ - [Previous: c6.s3.43](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c6.s3.43) - [Next: c6.s4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c6.s4.1) - [Up: c6.s3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c6.s3) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c6.s3.44](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c6.s3.44) · Pramāṇa