Shloka 57
न हि शक्तो5सि मार्जार पाशं छेत्तुं मया विना | अहं छेत्स्यामि पाशांस्ते यदि मां त्वं न हिंससि,'मार्जार! तुम मेरी सहायताके बिना अपना यह बन्धन नहीं काट सकते। यदि तुम मेरी हिंसा न करो तो मैं तुम्हारे ये सारे बन्धन काट डालूँगा
na hi śakto 'si mārjāra pāśaṃ chettuṃ mayā vinā | ahaṃ chetsyāmi pāśāṃs te yadi māṃ tvaṃ na hiṃsasi ||
Bhishma said: “O cat, you are not able to cut this noose without my help. If you do not harm me, I will cut all your bonds for you.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Help and protection are offered within a moral boundary: one should not repay compassion with violence. The verse underscores ahiṃsā (non-harm) as a prerequisite for receiving aid and as a basis for trustworthy relations.
Bhīṣma addresses a cat caught in a snare, stating that it cannot free itself without assistance. He offers to cut the bonds, but only on the condition that the cat does not attack or harm him while being rescued.