Shloka 49
Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)
कः शूलं तीक्षणमासाद्य सर्वगान्रैर्निषेवते । कः: शिरस्यग्निमाधाय विश्वस्त: स्वपते सुखम्
kaḥ śūlaṃ tīkṣṇam āsādya sarvāṅgair niṣevate | kaḥ śirasy agnim ādhāya viśvastaḥ svapate sukham ||
“Who would approach a sharp spear and willingly press it into all his limbs? Who, in folly, would place fire upon his own head and then sleep peacefully, feeling secure?”
(श्रीरम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not knowingly embrace harmful causes and then expect peace; wisdom lies in avoiding evident sources of suffering and acting with foresight.
Śrī Rāma speaks in rhetorical questions, using vivid metaphors (a sharp spear and fire on the head) to rebuke complacency and to caution against trusting in safety while remaining in a self-created peril.