Shloka 72
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
इत्येवमुक्त: पलितो मार्जारं वशमागतम् । वाक््यं हितमुवाचेदमभिनीतार्थमर्थवित्,बिलावके ऐसा कहनेपर अपने प्रयोजनको समझनेवाले पलितने वशमें आये हुए उस बिलावसे यह अभिप्रायपूर्ण हितकर बात कही--
ity evam uktaḥ palito mārjāraṃ vaśam āgatam | vākyaṃ hitam uvācedam abhinītārtham arthavit |
Bhishma said: Thus addressed, Palita—wise and understanding the true purpose—spoke a beneficial, pointedly suggestive counsel to the cat, who had now come under his control.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That wise counsel (hita-vākya) should be delivered with discernment of purpose (arthavit) and, when needed, with implied meaning (abhinīta-artha), especially when dealing with someone already brought under control—highlighting prudence in ethical instruction and strategy.
In Bhishma’s discourse, the character Palita, having been addressed, now finds the cat subdued or compliant (vaśam āgata) and proceeds to speak a welfare-oriented but deliberately suggestive statement—setting up the next part of the fable-like episode.