दुःखितोऽपि चरेद्धर्मं यत्र कुत्राश्रमे रतः ।
समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु न लिङ्गं धर्मकारणम् ॥
duḥkhito’pi cared dharmaṁ yatra kutrāśrame rataḥ |
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu na liṅgaṁ dharma-kāraṇam ||
(Hitopadeśa: Sandhi, 91)
“Even in distress, one situated in any āśrama should adhere to dharma and be equal towards all living beings. [Mere] Markings are not causes of dharma.”