Shloka 18
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
तस्य कालेन महता विश्रम्भं जग्मुरण्डजा: । समेत्य च प्रशंसन्ति मार्जारं तं विशाम्पते
tasya kālena mahatā viśrambhaṃ jagmur aṇḍajāḥ | sametya ca praśaṃsanti mārjāraṃ taṃ viśāmpate ||
Wahai penguasa rakyat, setelah waktu yang panjang berlalu, makhluk-makhluk yang lahir dari telur (burung-burung) perlahan-lahan menaruh kepercayaan kepadanya; lalu mereka berkumpul dan memuji kucing itu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Trust can be engineered through prolonged performance; ethical discernment requires judging character and intent, not merely sustained appearances or flattering speech.
Over time the birds begin to feel safe with the cat and, assembling near him, openly praise him—an ominous turn that suggests the cat has successfully cultivated their confidence for ulterior motives.