Shloka 66
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
बुद्धिमान् वाक्यसम्पन्नस्तद्वाक्यमनुवर्णयन् । स्वामवस्थां समीक्ष्याथ साम्नैव प्रत्यपूजयत्
buddhimān vākyasampannas tadvākyam anubarṇayan | svāmavasthāṁ samīkṣyātha sāmnaiva pratyapūjayat ||
Mit scharfem Verstand und in der Rede gewandt, wiederholte er jene Worte zunächst in seinem Innern. Dann, nachdem er seine eigene Lage erwogen hatte, erwiderte er mit sāma (Beschwichtigung und Ausgleich) und überschüttete die Maus mit reichem Lob.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before responding, one should reflect on one’s own position and choose the appropriate means; when direct force is unwise, conciliation and respectful speech (sāma) can be the most dharmic and effective strategy.
A skilled and intelligent speaker mentally reviews what the mouse has said, assesses his own circumstances, and then replies using conciliatory policy—praising the mouse profusely to achieve his aim through diplomacy rather than conflict.