Shloka 23
उपगम्य तु ते सर्वे बिडालमिदमन्लरुवन् भवत्प्रसादादिच्छामश्चर्तु चैव यथासुखम्,“यह सोचकर वे सभी उस बिलावके पास गये और इस प्रकार बोले--“मामाजी! हम सब लोग आपकी कृपासे सुखपूर्वक विचरना चाहते हैं। आप ही हमारे निर्भय आश्रय हैं और आप ही हमारे परम सुहृद् हैं। हम सब लोग एक साथ संगठित होकर आपकी शरणमें आये हैं
upagamya tu te sarve biḍālam idam anvabravan— bhavatprasādād icchāmaś carituṃ caiva yathāsukham |
Then all of them approached the cat and spoke as follows: “O maternal uncle! By your favor we wish to move about in comfort and safety. You are our fearless refuge and our highest well-wisher. United together, we have come to seek your protection.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how flattering speech and appeals to kinship can be used to secure protection—raising an ethical warning about misplaced trust and the need for discernment (viveka) when choosing one’s refuge.
A group collectively approaches a cat and addresses it respectfully as ‘maternal uncle,’ declaring it their fearless shelter and well-wisher, and asking to live and move about comfortably under its protection.