Shloka 30
Śakuni–Duryodhana-saṃvāda: Dyūta-yojanā (Śakuni and Duryodhana on Planning the Dice-Game)
सा हि मांसार्गलं भीष्म मुखात् सिंहस्य खादत: । दन्तान्तरविलग्नं यत् तदादत्तेडल्पचेतना,भीष्म! वह मूर्ख चिड़िया मांस खाते हुए सिंहके दाँतोंमें लगे हुए मांसके टुकड़ेको अपनी चोंचसे चुगती रहती है
sā hi māṁsārgalā bhīṣma mukhāt siṁhasya khādataḥ | dantāntaravilagnaṁ yat tad ādatte ’lpa-cetanā ||
భీష్మా! ‘మాంసార్గలా’ అనే ఆ మందబుద్ధి పక్షి, సింహం మాంసం తింటుండగా దాని పళ్ల మధ్య ఇరుక్కున్న మాంసపు ముక్కలను ముక్కుతో తొలుచుకుంటూ ఉంటుంది.
शिशुपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a sharp metaphor to criticize petty, shameless opportunism and reckless speech: a small creature daring to pick scraps from a lion’s mouth symbolizes a person who, lacking discernment, meddles or grabs minor advantage in the presence of great power—inviting danger and moral blame.
In the royal assembly context, Śiśupāla addresses Bhīṣma with contempt, employing a vivid image (a bird pecking meat from between a lion’s teeth) to deride Bhīṣma’s stance and to portray him as foolishly interfering or seeking trifling gains amid formidable forces.