Shloka 32
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
मूषिकाणां गणश्नात्र भृशं संक्षीयतेडथ सः । मार्जारो वर्धते चापि तेजोबलसमन्वित:,“इधर चूहोंकी संख्या बड़े वेगसे घटने लगी और वह बिलाव तेज और बलसे सम्पन्न हो प्रतिदिन बढ़ने लगा
mūṣikāṇāṃ gaṇaś cātra bhṛśaṃ saṃkṣīyate ’tha saḥ | mārjāro vardhate cāpi tejobalasamanvitaḥ ||
Di sini, kawanan tikus cepat sekali menyusut; sementara itu si kucing—berbekal daya dan kekuatan—terus bertambah besar dari hari ke hari.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When power operates without restraint against the weak, the weak rapidly decline while the powerful grow stronger; the verse cautions against allowing such imbalance to continue unchecked, implying the need for prudent protection and ethical restraint.
Sañjaya describes a situation in which the mice are being reduced quickly, while the cat becomes increasingly strong—an image of accelerating loss on one side and accumulating power on the other.