Shloka 13
Ālasyadoṣa-nirdeśa (On the Fault of Negligence) — The Camel’s Long-Neck Exemplum
यदा त्वबुध्यतात्मानं भक्ष्यमाणं स वै पशु: । तदा संकोचने यत्नमकरोद् भृशदु:खित:,जब उस पशुको यह मालूम हुआ कि उसकी गर्दन खायी जा रही है, तब वह अत्यन्त दुखी हो उसे समेटनेका प्रयत्न करने लगा
yadā tv abudhyatātmānaṃ bhakṣyamāṇaṃ sa vai paśuḥ | tadā saṃkocane yatnam akarod bhṛśa-duḥkhitaḥ ||
Als das Tier jedoch endlich merkte, dass man seinen eigenen Hals fraß, wurde es von tiefem Schmerz ergriffen und bemühte sich heftig, sich einzuziehen und zu schützen.
उड्ड उवाच
Educational Q&A
Awareness of one’s real condition is the turning point: ignorance allows harm to continue unchecked, but recognition—though painful—prompts effort toward restraint and self-protection. Ethically, it suggests that discernment (buddhi) is prerequisite to effective action against suffering.
An animal, previously unaware, realizes that its own neck is being eaten. Overwhelmed with distress, it tries to contract or pull itself in, making a desperate effort to prevent further injury.