Shloka 18
The Glory of Lamp-Donation
in Kārttika
सर्पिस्तत्स्वादितु चाखुरागतोऽपि प्रदीपतः । यावत्खादितुमारेभे बोधितोऽसौ प्रदीपकः
sarpistatsvāditu cākhurāgato'pi pradīpataḥ | yāvatkhāditumārebhe bodhito'sau pradīpakaḥ
Seekor tikus datang ke pelita untuk merasai ghee; namun tatkala ia mula memakannya, nyala pelita itu menyala bangkit lalu menyedarkannya akan bahaya.
Narrator (context not provided; speaker cannot be reliably identified from a single verse)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: temple
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाखुः = च + आखुः; आखुरागतोऽपि = आखुः + आगतः + अपि; यावत्खादितुमारेभे = यावत् + खादितुम् + आरेभे; बोधितोऽसौ = बोधितः + असौ.
FAQs
It warns that temptation (the mouse drawn to ghee) can turn dangerous the moment awareness or consequences arise (the lamp/flame ‘awakening’).
A traditional oil/ghee lamp naturally combines attraction (ghee as food) with peril (fire), making it an effective moral allegory for desire and its risks.
Seemingly small indulgences can quickly become harmful; cultivate alertness and restraint before desire “begins to eat” and consequences ignite.