Shloka 9
Janamejaya’s Appeal for Pacification and Śaunaka’s Counsel on Humility (जनमेजय-शौनक संवादः)
तस्य तद् वचन श्रुत्वा शकुनेर्लुब्धको<ब्रवीत् । बाधते खलु मे शीतं संत्राणं हि विधीयताम्,कबूतरकी यह बात सुनकर व्याधने कहा--“इस समय मुझे सर्दीका कष्ट है; अतः इससे बचानेका कोई उपाय करो'
tasya tad vacanaṁ śrutvā śakuner lubdhako 'bravīt | bādhate khalu me śītaṁ saṁtrāṇaṁ hi vidhīyatām ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Mendengar kata-kata burung merpati itu, si pemburu—orang suruhan Śakuni—menjawab, “Sesungguhnya, kesejukan menyeksaku sekarang; maka sediakanlah perlindungan untukku.” Dalam bingkai etika kisah ini, si pengejar mengalihkan tuntutan daripada kekerasan kepada keperluan diri, menguji sama ada belas kasihan dan kewajipan akan meliputi bahkan orang yang mengancam yang lain.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic test: whether one’s duty of compassion and protection (saṁtrāṇa) is offered impartially, even when the requester is connected to harm or pursuit. Ethical conduct is measured by consistency under pressure.
After hearing the dove’s words, the hunter—linked to Shakuni—speaks up, complaining of the cold and asking for shelter. The request reframes the encounter from chasing prey to seeking relief, setting up a moral dilemma about how to treat the pursuer.