Shloka 57
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
न हि शक्तो5सि मार्जार पाशं छेत्तुं मया विना | अहं छेत्स्यामि पाशांस्ते यदि मां त्वं न हिंससि
na hi śakto 'si mārjāra pāśaṃ chettuṃ mayā vinā | ahaṃ chetsyāmi pāśāṃs te yadi māṃ tvaṃ na hiṃsasi ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai kucing, tanpa pertolonganku engkau tak sanggup memutus jerat ini. Jika engkau tidak menyakitiku, akan kupotong semua ikatanmu.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Help and protection are offered within a moral boundary: one should not repay compassion with violence. The verse underscores ahiṃsā (non-harm) as a prerequisite for receiving aid and as a basis for trustworthy relations.
Bhīṣma addresses a cat caught in a snare, stating that it cannot free itself without assistance. He offers to cut the bonds, but only on the condition that the cat does not attack or harm him while being rescued.