Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

उनके मनमें दुष्टता भरी थी। वे सियारके पास मित्रभावसे आते और उसे समझा- बुझाकर प्रसन्न करके अपने ही समान दोषके पथपर चलानेकी चेष्टा करते थे ।।

Transliteration

teṣāṁ manasi duṣṭatā pūrṇā āsīt | te gomāyuṁ prati mitrabhāvena samāgacchanti sma, taṁ samyak bodhayitvā prasādayitvā ca svadoṣamārge svavat pravartayituṁ ceṣṭante sma || pūrvaṁ tu te paradravyābhihāriṇaḥ āsan | idānīṁ tu tathā kartum aśaktāḥ | gomāyunā teṣāṁ sarveṣāṁ prati dṛḍhaniyamo nidhāpitah, tena te kasyacid api vastuno grahaṇe’pi samarthā na babhūvuḥ ||

Translation

अशुभबुद्धयः पूर्वं परद्रव्याभिहारिणः । अशक्ताः किञ्चिद् द्रव्यं गोमायुयन्त्रिताः ॥

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'duṣṭatā', 'definition': 'wickedness, malice, corrupt intent'}, {'term': 'mitrabhāva', 'definition': 'attitude of friendship

• feigned friendliness'}, {'term': 'gomāyu', 'definition': 'jackal'}, {'term': 'bodhayitvā', 'definition': 'having instructed, having persuaded'}, {'term': 'prasādayitvā', 'definition': 'having pleased, having won over'}, {'term': 'doṣa-mārga', 'definition': 'path of fault/sin

• way of wrongdoing'}, {'term': 'paradravya', 'definition': 'another’s property'}, {'term': 'abhihārin', 'definition': 'one who carries off/steals

• plunderer'}, {'term': 'aśakta', 'definition': 'unable, powerless'}, {'term': 'niyama', 'definition': 'restraint, rule, strict regulation'}]

Speaker

शार्टूल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• शार्टूल (Śārṭūla)
• गोमायु (jackal)
• दुष्ट (wicked companions/plunderers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Those driven by malice often disguise themselves as friends to recruit others into wrongdoing; true ethical strength is shown by restraint (niyama) that prevents harm to others, especially the taking of another’s property.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of formerly thieving characters approach the jackal in a friendly manner, trying to persuade him to join their corrupt ways; however, the jackal has already enforced strict discipline, making them unable to steal as they once did.