Shloka 9
Adhyāya 118: Saciva-parīkṣā
Testing and Appointment of Ministers/Servants
स ततः: सिंहतां नीतो नागेन््द्रो मुनिना तदा । वन्यं नागणयत् सिंहं तुल्यजातिसमन्वयात्,तब मुनिने उस गजराजको सिंह बना दिया। अब वह समान जातिके सम्बन्धसे जंगली सिंहको कुछ भी नहीं गिनता था
sa tataḥ siṁhatāṁ nīto nāgendro muninā tadā | vanyaṁ nāgaṇayat siṁhaṁ tulyajātisamanvayāt ||
Dijo Bhishma: «Entonces, en aquel momento, el sabio transformó al señor de los elefantes en un león. Al adquirir parentesco con una especie igual, ya no consideró al león salvaje como algo de importancia.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A change in external status or identity can breed arrogance: once the elephant becomes a lion, he dismisses other lions due to a sense of equal rank. The verse cautions that association with a higher or equal station should not become a cause for contempt toward others.
A sage transforms a great elephant into a lion. After the transformation, the newly made lion, feeling aligned with the lion’s species, no longer respects or fears the wild lion, treating it as insignificant.