Shloka 13
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: On the Superiority of Giving
Maitreya–Vyāsa Exemplum
श्रोतुमस्मद्विधेनेष न शक््य: कीटयोनिना । तस्मादतिक्रमाम्येष भयादस्मात् सुदारुणात्
śrotum asmad-vidhena iha na śakyaḥ kīṭa-yoninā | tasmād atikramāmy eṣa bhayād asmāt sudāruṇāt ||
Cacing itu berkata: “Bagi makhluk sepertiku—yang lahir sebagai serangga—tak mungkin menahan diri untuk mendengar bunyi ini di sini. Karena itu, demi menyelamatkan diri dari ketakutan yang amat mengerikan ini, aku lari meninggalkan tempat ini.”
कीट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical realism of recognizing one’s limited capacity: when an experience (here, a terrifying sound or message) exceeds one’s endurance, withdrawing for self-protection can be a prudent response rather than a moral failure.
A worm (kīṭa), speaking in the dialogue, admits that as an insect it cannot bear to listen to the dreadful matter being presented, and therefore decides to leave immediately out of intense fear.