Shloka 18
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
तस्य कालेन महता विश्रम्भं जग्मुरण्डजा: । समेत्य च प्रशंसन्ति मार्जारं तं विशाम्पते,“राजन! दीर्घकालके पश्चात् धीरे-धीरे पक्षियोंने उसपर विश्वास कर लिया। अब वे उस बिलावके पास आकर उसकी भूरि-भूरि प्रशंसा करने लगे
tasya kālena mahatā viśrambhaṃ jagmur aṇḍajāḥ | sametya ca praśaṃsanti mārjāraṃ taṃ viśāmpate ||
Sañjaya said: After a long passage of time, the egg-born creatures (the birds) gradually came to trust him. Then, gathering around, they began to praise that cat—O lord of the people.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Trust can be engineered through prolonged performance; ethical discernment requires judging character and intent, not merely sustained appearances or flattering speech.
Over time the birds begin to feel safe with the cat and, assembling near him, openly praise him—an ominous turn that suggests the cat has successfully cultivated their confidence for ulterior motives.