Previous Verse

Shloka 5636

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

आज्ञापयामास तदा गोमायुर्वध्यतामिति । ऐसा कहकर वे क्षणभरमें ही सियारके घरसे उस मांसको उठा लाये। मांसके अपहरणकी बात जानकर और उन सेवकोंकी बातें सुनकर शेरने उस समय यह आज्ञा दे दी कि सियारको प्राणदण्ड दे दिया जाय

ājñāpayāmāsa tadā gomāyur vadhyatām iti |

Bhīṣma disse: Então o leão ordenou: “Que o chacal seja condenado à morte.” Dito isso, os servos foram de imediato à morada do chacal e trouxeram de volta aquele pedaço de carne. Quando o leão soube do furto da carne e ouviu o relato dos servos, emitiu a ordem de que o chacal recebesse pena capital. O episódio ressalta a responsabilidade régia de proteger o que lhe é confiado e punir o roubo, ao mesmo tempo que levanta a questão ética da proporcionalidade da pena.

आज्ञापयामासordered/commanded
आज्ञापयामास:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootआज्ञा + √पय् (णिच्) / causative of √ज्ञा (आज्ञापयति)
FormPerfect (Periphrastic Perfect), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada
तदाthen
तदा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
गोमायुःthe jackal
गोमायुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगोमायु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वध्यताम्let (him) be slain
वध्यताम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Root√वध्
FormImperative, 3, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive/impersonal sense: 'let him be killed'
इतिthus
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
L
lion
J
jackal (gomāyu)
S
servants/messengers
M
meat
J
jackal’s house/dwelling

Educational Q&A

The passage illustrates rājadharma: a ruler must uphold order by responding to wrongdoing (here, theft) and protecting entrusted property; it also invites reflection on whether punishment should be proportionate to the offense.

After learning that meat has been stolen and hearing the servants’ account, the lion orders that the jackal be executed; the servants retrieve the meat from the jackal’s dwelling, confirming the theft.