Shloka 50
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
सौहदेनाभि भाषे त्वां कच्चिन्मार्जार जीवसि । जीवितं हि तवेच्छामि श्रेय: साधारणं हि नौ
sauhadenābhi bhāṣe tvāṁ kaccin mārjāra jīvasi | jīvitaṁ hi tavēcchāmi śreyaḥ sādhāraṇaṁ hi nau ||
Bhishma berkata: “Aku berbicara kepadamu dengan semangat persahabatan, wahai kucing—adakah engkau masih hidup? Sesungguhnya aku menghendaki nyawamu terpelihara, kerana dalam kelangsungan hidupmu terletak kebaikan yang dikongsi oleh kita berdua.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical speech and action through sauharda (goodwill): one should wish for another’s safety and life, recognizing that genuine welfare (śreyas) can be shared rather than competitive.
Bhishma addresses a cat directly, speaking in a friendly tone and checking whether it is alive, while stating that he desires its continued life because that outcome benefits both parties.