Shloka 2
शाडुर्गका ऊचु: न द्वतं तं वयं विद्य: श्येनेनाखुं कथंचन । अन्ये5डपि भवितारोजअत्र तेभ्योडपि भयमेव न:,शार्ड्गक बोले--हम किसी तरह यह नहीं समझ सकते कि बाज चूहेको उठा ले गया। उस बिलनमें दूसरे चूहे भी तो हो सकते हैं; हमारे लिये तो उनसे भी भय ही है
Śāḍūrgakā ūcuḥ: na dṛṣṭaṃ taṃ vayaṃ vidmaḥ śyenena ākhūṃ kathaṃcana | anye ’pi bhavitāro ’tra tebhyo ’pi bhayam eva naḥ ||
เหล่าศาฑูรกกะกล่าวว่า “พวกเราไม่ได้เห็นเลย จึงไม่อาจรู้ได้โดยประการใดว่าเหยี่ยวคาบหนูไป และในโพรงนี้อาจยังมีหนูตัวอื่นอยู่ด้วย; ต่อพวกมันเราก็มีแต่ความหวาดกลัว”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can persist even without direct evidence: lacking clear perception, the speakers cannot confirm the cause (the hawk), yet they remain anxious about other possible threats. Ethically, it points to the need for discernment (knowing what is actually seen/known) while acknowledging the mind’s tendency to multiply dangers under uncertainty.
A group called the Śāḍūrgakas respond that they did not witness a hawk carrying off the mouse. They add that the burrow may contain other mice, and those unknown occupants are also a source of fear to them.