Shloka 18
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
शार्टूल उवाच सौम्य विज्ञातरूपस्त्वं गच्छ यात्रां मया सह । व्रियन्तामीप्सिता भोगा: परिहार्याश्व पुष्कला:,व्याप्र बोला--सौम्य! मैं तुम्हारे स्वरूपसे परिचित हूँ। तुम मेरे साथ चलो और अपनी रुचिके अनुसार अधिक-से-अधिक भोगोंका उपभोग करो। जो वस्तुएँ प्रिय न हों, उन्हें त्याग देना
śārṭūla uvāca
saumya vijñātarūpas tvaṃ gaccha yātrāṃ mayā saha |
vriyantām īpsitā bhogāḥ parihāryāś ca puṣkalāḥ ||
ശാർടൂലൻ പറഞ്ഞു—സൗമ്യാ! നിന്റെ സ്വരൂപം എനിക്ക് അറിയാം. എന്റെ കൂടെ യാത്രയ്ക്ക് വരിക. നിനക്കിഷ്ടമായ ഭോഗങ്ങൾ ഒരുക്കപ്പെടും; ഇഷ്ടമല്ലാത്തവയെ ധാരാളമായി തന്നെ ഒഴിവാക്കുക.
शार्टूल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights discernment in enjoyment: one may accept what is truly desired or beneficial while deliberately setting aside what is displeasing or unsuitable. In the ethical atmosphere of Śānti Parva, such language often frames a test of values—whether one is swayed by offered pleasures or remains guided by restraint and right judgment.
Śārṭūla addresses someone respectfully as ‘saumya,’ says he recognizes the person’s identity, and invites him to accompany him on a journey. He offers to arrange desired pleasures in abundance and to discard whatever is not liked—an invitation that can function as hospitality and also as a potential lure toward indulgence.