Shloka 42
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
तच्छुत्वा मूषिको वाक्य संत्रस्त: प्रगतो बिलम् । ततः स्नात्वा स वै तत्र आजगाम वृको नृप,यह बात सुनकर चूहा अत्यन्त भयभीत होकर बिलमें घुस गया। राजन! तत्पश्चात् भेड़िया भी स्नान करके वहाँ आ पहुँचा
tac chrutvā mūṣiko vākyaṁ saṁtrastaḥ pragato bilam | tataḥ snātvā sa vai tatra ājagāma vṛko nṛpa ||
Al oír esas palabras, el ratón, presa del terror, se precipitó a su madriguera. Luego, oh rey, el lobo también se bañó y llegó allí después.
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores prudent self-preservation: when danger is perceived through another’s words, swift retreat and caution are appropriate, while the predator’s arrival signals that fear was not unfounded.
After hearing a statement (spoken earlier in the episode), the mouse becomes frightened and slips into its burrow; soon after, the wolf arrives at the same place, having bathed, setting up a confrontation or threat.