Shloka 17
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: On the Superiority of Giving
Maitreya–Vyāsa Exemplum
कीट उवाच सर्वत्र निरतो जीव इतश्नापि सुखं मम । चिन्तयामि महाप्राज्ञ तस्मादिच्छामि जीवितुम्
kīṭa uvāca sarvatra nirato jīva itaś cāpi sukhaṃ mama | cintayāmi mahāprājña tasmād icchāmi jīvitum ||
O inseto disse: “Ó sábio, a vida está empenhada por toda parte, em incessante atividade, e mesmo aqui encontro a minha própria medida de felicidade. Refletindo nisso, ó de grande inteligência, desejo portanto continuar vivendo.”
कीट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a small creature values life and can find happiness in its own condition; thoughtful reflection leads to affirming life rather than abandoning it.
An insect speaks to a wise interlocutor, explaining that it experiences happiness even in its present state and, after considering this, expresses the wish to continue living.