Shloka 29
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
तस्योपरि सपत्नस्य बद्धस्य मनसा हसन् । आमिषे तु प्रसक्त: स कदाचिदवलोकयन्,जालके ऊपर मांस खानेमें लगा हुआ वह चूहा अपने शत्रुके ऊपर मन-ही-मन हँस रहा था। इतनेहीमें कभी उसकी दृष्टि दूसरी ओर घूम गयी
tasyopari sapatnasya baddhasya manasā hasan | āmiṣe tu prasaktaḥ sa kadācid avalokayan |
Bhīṣma dit : «Riant intérieurement de son rival, lié et gisant sous lui, la souris s’absorba dans l’appât (la viande). Et, tout entière à sa pitance, il lui arriva, l’espace d’un instant, de détourner le regard—préparant ainsi le renversement que causent la négligence et l’excès d’assurance.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment to tempting objects (āmiṣa) and the pride of superiority can produce negligence (pramāda). Even when one seems to have an advantage over an enemy, loss of vigilance and indulgence can quickly turn success into danger.
A mouse, positioned above a bound rival, mocks him inwardly while eating meat used as bait. In the midst of feeding, the mouse’s attention shifts elsewhere—hinting that this momentary distraction will lead to an unexpected consequence.