Shloka 105
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
सियार बोला--ठहरो, ठहरो। जबतक यहाँ सूर्यका प्रकाश है, तबतक तुम्हें बिल्कुल नहीं डरना चाहिये। उस समयतक इस बालकपर स्नेह करके इसके प्रति ममतापूर्ण बर्ताव करो। निर्भय होकर दीर्घकालतक इसे स्नेहदृष्टिसे देखो और जी भरकर रो लो। यद्यपि यह वन्यप्रदेश भयंकर है तो भी यहाँ तुम्हें कोई भय नहीं होगा; क्योंकि यह भू-भाग पितरोंका निवास-स्थान होनेके कारण श्मशान होता हुआ भी सौम्य है। जबतक सूर्य दिखायी देते हैं, तबतक यहीं ठहरो। इस मांसभक्षी गीधके कहनेसे क्या होगा? ।। यदि गृध्रस्य वाक्यानि तीव्राणि रभसानि च | गृह्नीत मोहितात्मान: सुतो वो न भविष्यति,यदि तुम मोहितचित्त होकर इस गीधकी घोर एवं घबराहटमें डालनेवाली बातोंमें आ जाओगे तो इस बालकसे हाथ थो बैठोगे
jambuka uvāca— tiṣṭhata tiṣṭhata. yāvatra sūryasya prakāśo vidyate tāvatra yuṣmābhir na bhītabhavyam. tāvatkālaṃ bālakaṃ prati snehaṃ kṛtvā tasmin mamatāyuktaṃ vyavahāraṃ kuruta. nirbhayā dīrghakālaṃ taṃ sneha-dṛṣṭyā paśyata, yathā-śakti ca rudata. yady api ayaṃ vanapradeśo bhayaṅkaraḥ, tathāpi iha yuṣmākaṃ bhayaṃ na bhaviṣyati; pitṝṇāṃ nivāsa-sthānatvāt ayam bhū-bhāgaḥ śmaśāna-bhūto ’pi saumyatāṃ pratipadyate. yāvat sūryāḥ dṛśyante tāvad ihaiva tiṣṭhata. asya māṃsa-bhakṣakasya gṛdhrasya vacanena kiṃ bhaviṣyati? yadi gṛdhrasya vākyāni tīvrāṇi rabhāsāni ca gṛhṇīta mohitātmānaḥ, suto vo na bhaviṣyati.
The jackal said: “Stay—stay here. As long as the sun’s light remains, you have no need to fear at all. Until then, show affection to the child and treat him with tender, possessive care. Look on him for a long while with fearless, loving eyes, and weep to your heart’s content. Though this forest tract is dreadful, no danger will befall you here, for this ground—being a dwelling-place of the Fathers (Pitṛ)—though a cremation-ground, is yet gentle in its own way. So long as the sun is visible, remain right here. What should come of listening to the words of this flesh-eating vulture? If, deluded in mind, you accept the vulture’s harsh and panic-driving speech, you will lose your son.”
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not let fear-driven, predatory counsel dictate action; maintain discernment and courage, and uphold compassionate duty—here, protecting and honoring the child—while recognizing that even a frightening place can be made ‘safe’ by right understanding (the presence of daylight and the sanctity associated with the Pitṛs).
A jackal addresses grieving parents (or guardians) with a child, urging them to remain until sunset, to look lovingly upon the child and mourn without panic, and to ignore the vulture’s harsh, agitating words—warning that if they follow the vulture’s advice, they will lose their son.