Shloka 7
परिक्षिद्वृत्तान्तप्रश्नः
Inquiry into Parīkṣit’s Conduct and the Beginnings of His Downfall
वीरणस्तम्बके मूलं यदप्येकमिह स्थितम् | तदप्ययं शनैराखुरादत्ते दशनै: शितै:,“खशके इस गुच्छेमें जो मूलका एक तन्तु यहाँ बचा है, उसे भी यह चूहा अपने तीखे दाँतोंसे धीरे-धीरे कुतर रहा है
vīraṇastambake mūlaṃ yad apy ekam iha sthitam | tad apy ayaṃ śanair ākhur ādatte daśanaiḥ śitaiḥ ||
তক্ষকে ক’লে—“এই বীৰণ-ঘাঁহৰ গুচ্ছত মূলৰ যি একমাত্ৰ তন্তু এতিয়াও আছে, তাকো এই এঁদুৰে নিজৰ তীক্ষ্ণ দাঁতে ধীৰে ধীৰে কুটি লৈছে।”
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Persistent, incremental forces can destroy even what appears firmly established; therefore one should not be complacent but remain alert to slow-building dangers and moral decline.
Takṣaka points to a mouse gnawing at the last remaining root-fibre of a clump of vīraṇa grass, using it as a vivid example of how something can be steadily undermined little by little.