Shloka 6
Adhyāya 118: Saciva-parīkṣā
Testing and Appointment of Ministers/Servants
कदाचिद् भ्रममाणस्य हस्तिन: सम्मुखं तदा | ऋषेस्तस्योटजस्थस्य कालोडगच्छन्निशानिशम्,कभी-कभी वह हाथी आश्रमवासी ऋषिके सामने भी घूमा करता था। इस तरह उसका कितनी ही रातोंका समय व्यतीत हो गया
kadācid bhramamāṇasya hastinaḥ sammukhaṃ tadā | ṛṣes tasyōṭajasthasya kālo ’gacchann niśāniśam |
Bhīṣma sprach: Mitunter kam der Elefant, während er umherstreifte, geradewegs vor den Einsiedler, der in seiner Hütte lebte. So verging die Zeit, Nacht um Nacht.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how repeated actions and proximity over time can normalize behavior and set the stage for ethical consequences; vigilance and discipline are needed so that habit does not quietly become harm.
An elephant, roaming about, repeatedly comes before a sage living in a hut; as this continues night after night, a significant span of time passes, preparing the context for what follows in the episode.