Shloka 84
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
एवमाश्वचासितो विद्वान् माजरिण स मूषिक: । मार्जारोरसि विस्रब्ध: सुष्वाप पितृमातृवत्
evam āśvāsitaḥ vidvān mārjāriṇā sa mūṣikaḥ | mārjārorasi visrabdhaḥ suṣvāpa pitṛ-mātṛ-vat ||
Ainsi rassuré par le chat savant, la souris—désormais sans soupçon—s’endormit sur la poitrine du chat, avec la même confiance qu’un enfant reposant sur les genoux de son père et de sa mère.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Soothing assurances and displays of ‘wisdom’ can create false security; dharmic conduct requires discernment in granting trust, especially toward those whose nature or interests may conflict with one’s safety.
After the cat gives the mouse a convincing reassurance, the mouse becomes fearless and sleeps on the cat’s chest, trusting it as one would trust one’s own parents—highlighting the mouse’s complete, and potentially dangerous, surrender of caution.