Shloka 12
Sandhi–Vigraha in Āpada: The Mouse and the Cat (सन्धिविग्रहापदि—मूषकमार्जारसंवादः)
यथा यथा वक्ष्यसि न: करिष्यामस्तथा तथा । पालयास्मान् यथान्यायं यथा माता यथा पिता,तुम हमें जैसी-जैसी आज्ञा दोगे, वैसा-ही-वैसा हम करेंगे। तुम माता-पिताके समान हमारी यथोचित रीतिसे रक्षा करो
yathā yathā vakṣyasi naḥ kariṣyāmas tathā tathā | pālayāsmān yathānyāyaṃ yathā mātā yathā pitā ||
Bhishma berkata: “Apa sahaja yang engkau perintahkan, demikianlah kami akan melakukannya. Peliharalah kami menurut keadilan dan kepatutan—seperti seorang ibu, seperti seorang bapa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes disciplined obedience to rightful instruction and the ruler/guardian’s reciprocal duty to protect dependents according to nyāya (justice and propriety), with parental care as the ethical model.
Bhishma voices a pledge of compliance—“we will do as you command”—and simultaneously requests just protection, framing the relationship as one of guidance and guardianship akin to that of parents toward children.