Shloka 21
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
नकुलो मूषिकानत्ति बिडालो नकुलं तथा | बिडालमत्ति श्वा राजन् श्वानं व्यालमृगस्तथा,राजन! नेवला चूहेको खा जाता है और नेवलेको बिलाव। बिलावको कुत्ता और कुत्तेको चीता चबा जाता है
nakulo mūṣikān atti biḍālo nakulaṃ tathā | biḍālam atti śvā rājan śvānaṃ vyāla-mṛgas tathā ||
অৰ্জুন ক’লে—হে ৰাজন! নকুল (বেজি) মূষিক খায়; তেনেদৰে বিড়াল নকুলক খায়। বিড়ালক কুকুৰ খায়, আৰু কুকুৰকো তেনেদৰে কোনো ভয়ংকৰ ব্যালমৃগ (হিংস্ৰ শিকারি) পৰাভূত কৰি গ্ৰাস কৰে॥
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates a natural and social reality: dominance is temporary, and every power has a stronger counter-power. Ethically, it cautions against arrogance and urges humility and vigilance, since worldly security is unstable.
Arjuna addresses a king and uses a vivid animal sequence—mouse, mongoose, cat, dog, and a fierce predator—to make a point through analogy: in the world, beings prey upon one another, and positions of strength can quickly reverse.