Shloka 29
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
युवा वै जवसम्पन्नो बुद्धिशाली न शक््यते । मूषिको5स्य शयानस्य चरणौ भक्षयत्वयम्,गीदड़ने कहा--भाई बाघ! तुमने वनमें इस हरिणको मारनेके लिये कई बार यत्न किया, परंतु यह बड़े वेगसे दौड़नेवाला, जवान और बुद्धिमान् है, इसलिये पकड़में नहीं आता। मेरी राय है कि जब यह हरिण सो रहा हो, उस समय यह चूहा इसके दोनों पैरोंको काट खाये। (फिर कटे हुए पैरोंसे यह उतना तेज नहीं दौड़ सकता।) उस अवस्थामें बाघ उसे पकड़ ले; फिर तो हम सब लोग प्रसन्नचित्त होकर उसे खायँगे
yuvā vai javasampanno buddhiśālī na śakyate | mūṣiko 'sya śayānasya caraṇau bhakṣayatv ayam ||
The jackal said: “This deer is young, swift, and intelligent, so it cannot be caught. My counsel is this: while it lies asleep, let this mouse gnaw away its two feet. Once its legs are injured, it will not be able to run with the same speed; then the tiger can seize it. After that, all of us will eat it with satisfied hearts.”
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how intelligence and planning can be turned toward adharma: harming a vulnerable being through deceit and coordinated cruelty. It warns that ‘clever counsel’ is not automatically righteous; ethical intent matters, and group agreement can normalize wrongdoing.
The jackal advises a predatory plan: since the deer is too fast and clever to catch, the mouse should gnaw its feet while it sleeps, reducing its speed so the tiger can capture it; then the group will share the prey.