Shloka 22
Gratitude, Discernment, and the Escalation of Power (Śvā–Dvipī–Vyāghra–Nāga–Siṃha–Śarabha Itihāsa)
ततो दृष्टवा स शार्दूलो नाहनतू् तं विशाम्पते । सतुश्चा व्याप्रतां प्राप्प बलवान् पिशिताशन:
tato dṛṣṭvā sa śārdūlo nāhanat taṃ viśāṃpate | sa tu śvā vyāpratāṃ prāpya balavān piśitāśanaḥ ||
ພີສະມະໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ: ໂອ ຈອມເຈົ້າແຫ່ງປະຊາ! ຕໍ່ມາ ເມື່ອເສືອເຫັນມັນມີຮູບຮ່າງຄ້າຍກັນ ກໍບໍ່ອາດລົງມືຂ້າໄດ້. ແຕ່ສຸນັກທີ່ໄດ້ກາຍເປັນເສືອນັ້ນ ກໍແຂງແກ່ຂຶ້ນ ແລະເລີ່ມກິນເນື້ອ. ເຫດການນີ້ຊີ້ວ່າ ການແປງຮູບພາຍນອກອາດປ່ຽນພຶດຕິກໍາ ແລະອໍານາດເມື່ອໄດ້ມາແລ້ວ ອາດຫັນໄປສູ່ຄວາມຮຸນແຮງຢ່າງວ່ອງໄວ ຫາກບໍ່ຖືກຄວບຄຸມໂດຍທຳມະ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
External change or newly acquired power can rapidly reshape behavior; without dharmic restraint, strength tends to drift toward violence and predation. The verse hints that true nobility lies not merely in form or power, but in self-control and ethical conduct.
A tiger sees the (formerly) dog now appearing in a tiger-like state and does not kill him. Meanwhile, the dog—having attained that powerful condition—becomes strong and begins living as a flesh-eater, adopting the predatory habits associated with the new form.