Shloka 21
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
तस्य मूलं समाश्रित्य कृत्वा शतमुखं बिलम् । वसति सम महाप्राज्ञ: पलितो नाम मूषिक:,उसीकी जड़मे सौ दरवाजोंका बिल बनाकर पलित नामक एक परम बुद्धिमान् चूहा निवास करता था
tasya mūlaṃ samāśritya kṛtvā śatamukhaṃ bilam | vasati sma mahāprājñaḥ palito nāma mūṣikaḥ ||
Taking refuge at the root of that tree, a supremely intelligent mouse named Palita made a burrow with a hundred entrances and lived there.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wisdom expresses itself as foresight and preparedness: one should build multiple safeguards and not depend on a single support or escape, especially when facing uncertain threats.
Bhīṣma describes a highly intelligent mouse named Palita who lives at the root of a tree (or base of something) in a burrow engineered with a hundred entrances, emphasizing his careful planning and security.