Shloka 16
धनी गत्वा कपानाह न वो विदप्रा: प्रियंकरा: । गहीत्वास्त्राण्यतो विप्रान् कपा: सर्वे समाद्रवन्
dhanī gatvā kapān āha—na vo vidprāḥ priyamkarāḥ | gṛhītvā astrāṇy ato viprān kapāḥ sarve samādravan |
Bhishma berkata: Orang kaya itu pergi kepada para monyet lalu berkata, “Para brahmana tidak cenderung melakukan apa yang menyenangkan kamu.” Mendengar demikian, semua monyet pun mengambil senjata dan menyerbu bersama-sama, menyerang para brahmana.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of inflammatory speech: when grievances are framed as deliberate hostility, they can incite collective violence. It implicitly warns that dharma is harmed when anger and weapons are turned against those traditionally owed protection, such as brahmins.
A wealthy man reports to the monkeys that the brahmins are not willing to please them. Enraged by this message, the monkeys arm themselves and rush to attack the brahmins.