Shloka 11
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: On the Superiority of Giving
Maitreya–Vyāsa Exemplum
कीड़ेने कहा--महामते! यह जो बहुत बड़ी बैलगाड़ी आ रही है, इसीकी घर्घराहट सुनकर मुझे भय हो गया है; क्योंकि उसकी यह आवाज बड़ी भयंकर है ।।
kīṭa uvāca—mahāmate! iyaṃ yā mahāśakaṭī samāyāti, tasyā ghoṣaṃ śrutvā me bhayaṃ jātaṃ; bhīṣaṇo hy eṣā ninādaḥ. śrūyate na ca māṃ hanyād iti hāsmād apakrame. śvasatāṃ ca śṛṇomy enaṃ goputrāṇāṃ pratodyatām.
कीट उवाच—महामते! एष महाशकटोऽयमागच्छति; तस्य घर्घरशब्दं श्रुत्वा मम भयं जातम्, स शब्दो हि भयानकः। श्रूयते च मनसि मे—‘मा मां हन्यात्’ इति; तस्मादस्मादपक्रमे। श्वसतां गोपुत्राणां प्रतोद्यतां च शब्दं शृणोमि; स निकट एव मे श्रूयते। शकटस्थनृणां च नानाविधाः शब्दाः श्रूयन्ते॥
कीट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the smallest beings experience fear and seek safety; the passage invites ethical sensitivity toward vulnerable life and highlights how ordinary human activity can unintentionally threaten others, urging mindful, non-harmful conduct.
An insect hears the terrifying rumble of an approaching ox-cart, worries it may be crushed, and quickly moves away while describing the panting oxen being driven by a goad and the voices of the men riding on the cart.