Shloka 17
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: On the Superiority of Giving
Maitreya–Vyāsa Exemplum
कीट उवाच सर्वत्र निरतो जीव इतश्नापि सुखं मम । चिन्तयामि महाप्राज्ञ तस्मादिच्छामि जीवितुम्
kīṭa uvāca sarvatra nirato jīva itaś cāpi sukhaṃ mama | cintayāmi mahāprājña tasmād icchāmi jīvitum ||
قالت الحشرة: «أيها الحكيم، إنّ الحياةَ منشغلةٌ في كل مكانٍ بلا انقطاع، وحتى هنا أجدُ لي نصيبًا من السعادة. وإذ أتفكّر في ذلك، يا عظيمَ الذكاء، فإني أرغب أن أواصل العيش.»
कीट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a small creature values life and can find happiness in its own condition; thoughtful reflection leads to affirming life rather than abandoning it.
An insect speaks to a wise interlocutor, explaining that it experiences happiness even in its present state and, after considering this, expresses the wish to continue living.