Shloka 19
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
पूज्यमानस्तु तै: सर्वे: पक्षिभि: पक्षिभोजन: । आत्मकार्य कृतं मेने चर्यायाश्व॒ कृतं फलम्,'पक्षियोंको अपना आहार बनानेवाला वह बिलाव जब उन समस्त पक्षियोंद्वारा अधिक आदर-सत्कार पाने लगा, तब उसने यह समझ लिया कि मेरा काम बन गया और मुझे धर्मानुष्ठानका भी अभीष्ट फल प्राप्त हो गया
pūjyamānas tu taiḥ sarvaiḥ pakṣibhiḥ pakṣibhojanaḥ | ātmakārya-kṛtaṃ mene caryāyāś ca kṛtaṃ phalam ||
Dijo Sañjaya: «Honrado y reverenciado por todas aquellas aves, el gato—que en verdad hacía de las aves su alimento—concluyó que su propósito se había cumplido y que también había obtenido el ‘fruto’ deseado de su piedad meramente aparente.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
External piety and disciplined ‘conduct’ can be used as a mask for selfish ends; true dharma is measured by intent and non-harm, not by the appearance of religious practice or the praise it attracts.
A cat that preys on birds receives honour from the birds (having deceived them through seemingly virtuous behaviour). Seeing their respect, it believes its personal scheme has succeeded and that it has gained the ‘reward’ of its ostentatious observance.