Shloka 66
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
बुद्धिमान् वाक्यसम्पन्नस्तद्वाक्यमनुवर्णयन् । स्वामवस्थां समीक्ष्याथ साम्नैव प्रत्यपूजयत्
buddhimān vākyasampannas tadvākyam anubarṇayan | svāmavasthāṁ samīkṣyātha sāmnaiva pratyapūjayat ||
Doué d’une vive intelligence et accompli dans l’art de la parole, il répéta cette déclaration en son for intérieur. Puis, après avoir considéré sa propre situation, il répondit par le sāma (la conciliation) et prodigua au rat d’abondantes louanges.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before responding, one should reflect on one’s own position and choose the appropriate means; when direct force is unwise, conciliation and respectful speech (sāma) can be the most dharmic and effective strategy.
A skilled and intelligent speaker mentally reviews what the mouse has said, assesses his own circumstances, and then replies using conciliatory policy—praising the mouse profusely to achieve his aim through diplomacy rather than conflict.