Shloka 50
Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)
आशीविषं घोरतरं पादेन स्पृशतीह कः । सिंहं केसरिणं कश्च दंष्टायां स्पृश्य तिष्तति,“कौन अत्यन्त भयंकर विषधर सर्पको पैरसे कुचल रहा है? तथा कौन केसरी सिंहकी दाढ़ोंमें हाथ डालकर निश्चिन्त खड़ा है?”
āśīviṣaṃ ghorataraṃ pādena spṛśatīha kaḥ | siṃhaṃ kesariṇaṃ kaścid daṃṣṭāyāṃ spṛśya tiṣṭhati ||
Quem, aqui, ousaria pisar com o pé uma serpente venenosa, a mais terrível? E quem permaneceria tranquilo depois de enfiar a mão nas mandíbulas de um leão de vasta juba? (Rāma usa essas imagens para mostrar que provocar um perigo esmagador é insensatez; o sábio não convida a ruína com um contato temerário com aquilo que certamente fere.)
(श्रीरम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches practical wisdom aligned with dharma: do not invite predictable harm through rash, arrogant, or careless actions. Just as no sensible person steps on a deadly snake or puts a hand into a lion’s jaws, one should avoid provoking dangers that are clearly beyond safe control.
Śrī Rāma speaks in the form of rhetorical questions, using vivid natural images (a venomous serpent and a lion) to warn against reckless behavior. The point is to dissuade someone from a course of action that is as perilous as touching lethal creatures.