Shloka 101
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
क्ररश्चायं वनोद्देशो भयमद्य भविष्यति । त्यज्यतां काष्ठभूतो<यं मृष्यतां जाम्बुकं वच:,जंगलका यह भाग क्रूर प्राणियोंसे भरा हुआ है। अब तुम्हें यहाँ बहुत बड़े भयका सामना करना पड़ेगा। यह बालक तो अब काठके समान निष्प्राण हो गया है। इसे छोड़ो और सियारकी बातोंके लोभमें न पड़ो
krūraś cāyaṁ vanoddeśo bhayam adya bhaviṣyati | tyajyatāṁ kāṣṭhabhūto 'yaṁ mṛṣyatāṁ jāmbukaṁ vacaḥ ||
Disse o abutre: “Este trecho de floresta é cruel e perigoso; hoje, o medo certamente surgirá aqui. Esta criança tornou-se como um pedaço de madeira —sem vida. Deixai-o, e não vos deixeis levar pelas palavras do chacal.”
गृध्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a perilous situation, one should not be misled by persuasive but self-serving counsel; discernment (viveka) and awareness of immediate danger are essential, even when emotions pull toward attachment.
A vulture warns that the forest region is dangerous and that fear is imminent; seeing the child as already lifeless, it urges others to abandon the child and not to follow the jackal’s tempting words.