Mahabharata 1.140.32 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 140, Shloka 32
Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)
दृष्टवैवाचेष्टमानं तु भूमौ मृगकलेवरम् । स्नात्वा55गच्छत भद्रं वो रक्षामीत्याह जम्बुक:
dṛṣṭvaiva ceṣṭamānaṃ tu bhūmau mṛgakalevaram | snātvā gacchata bhadraṃ vo rakṣāmīty āha jambukaḥ ||
दृष्ट्वैव चेष्टमानं तु भूमौ मृगकलेवरम्। स्नात्वा गच्छत भद्रं वो रक्षामीत्याह जम्बुकः॥
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Polite words and promises of protection can conceal self-interest; ethical discernment requires judging intent and likely outcome, not merely courteous speech.
A jackal, after noticing a deer’s carcass on the ground, tells others to go bathe and assures them he will guard the carcass in the meantime—setting up a situation where he can control access to the food.
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