Shloka 32
दृष्टवैवाचेष्टमानं तु भूमौ मृगकलेवरम् । स्नात्वा55गच्छत भद्रं वो रक्षामीत्याह जम्बुक:,पृथ्वीपर हरिणके शरीरको निनश्रेष्ट पड़ा देख गीदड़ने कहा--“आपलोगोंका भला हो। स्नान करके आइये। तबतक मैं इसकी रखवाली करता हूँ”
dṛṣṭvaiva ceṣṭamānaṃ tu bhūmau mṛgakalevaram | snātvā gacchata bhadraṃ vo rakṣāmīty āha jambukaḥ ||
Seeing the carcass of a deer lying on the ground, the jackal said, “Go and bathe—may good befall you. Until then, I will keep watch over it.”
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Polite words and promises of protection can conceal self-interest; ethical discernment requires judging intent and likely outcome, not merely courteous speech.
A jackal, after noticing a deer’s carcass on the ground, tells others to go bathe and assures them he will guard the carcass in the meantime—setting up a situation where he can control access to the food.