Shloka 6
मārkaṇḍeya-ukta yuddha-vyūha-pratyavyūhaḥ
Battle Formations and Countermeasures in the Rāmopākhyāna
बाल्यात् प्रसुप्तस्य महाबलस्य सिंहस्य पक्ष्माणि मुखाल्लुनासि । पदा समाहत्य पलायमान: क्रुद्धं यदा द्रक्ष्य्सि भीमसेनम्,'तू मूर्खतावश (अपनी माँदमें) सोये हुए महाबली सिंहको लात मारकर उसके मुखके बाल नोंच रहा है। जिस समय तू क्रोधमें भरे हुए भीमसेनको देखेगा, उस समय तुरंत भाग छूटेगा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bālyāt prasuptasya mahābalasya siṁhasya pakṣmāṇi mukhāl lunāsi | padā samāhatya palāyamānaḥ kruddhaṁ yadā drakṣyasi bhīmasenam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Out of childish folly you are kicking at, and plucking the facial hairs of, a mighty lion while it lies asleep in its den. But when you behold Bhīmasena roused in wrath, you will flee at once.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not mistake another’s temporary quiet or restraint for weakness; arrogant provocation of a powerful person invites swift and unavoidable consequences.
A warning is issued using a vivid metaphor: the addressee behaves like someone tormenting a sleeping lion, but will immediately run away once Bhīma—likened to that lion—awakens in anger.