Shloka 54
इदं हि नकुलोलूकं पापबुद्धयाभिसंस्थितम् | न धर्षयति मार्जार तेन मे स्वस्ति साम्प्रतम्,'मार्जार! देखो, ये नेवला और उल्लू दोनों पापबुद्धिसे यहाँ ठहरे हुए हैं। मेरी ओर घात लगाये बैठे हैं। जबतक वे मुझपर आक्रमण नहीं करते, तभीतक मैं कुशलसे हूँ
idaṃ hi nakulolūkaṃ pāpabuddhyābhisaṃsthitam | na dharṣayati mārjāra tena me svasti sāmpratam ||
Bhishma said: “Look, O cat—here the mongoose and the owl have taken their positions with sinful intent. They lie in wait to strike at me. So long as they do not attack me, I am safe for the moment.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights vigilance and moral discernment: recognizing malicious intent early can preserve safety. Ethical clarity includes identifying ‘pāpa-buddhi’ (harmful motives) and responding with prudent restraint rather than reckless engagement.
Bhishma, speaking within an illustrative animal-episode, addresses a cat and points out that a mongoose and an owl are positioned nearby with hostile intent, waiting to attack. He notes that his safety lasts only as long as they do not initiate the assault.