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.
Sabi ng insekto: “O marunong na ginoo! May napakalaking karitong hila ng mga baka na paparito. Nang marinig ko ang ugong nito, sinakmal ako ng takot, sapagkat nakapanghihilakbot ang tunog. Habang papalapit, hindi ko maiwasang isipin, ‘Huwag sanang dumating at durugin ako!’—kaya nagmamadali akong umalis sa daraanan nito. Naririnig ko ang mga bakang hinihingal sa bigat ng karga, hinahataw at tinutulak ng pang-udyok; napakalapit na ng ingay nila, at pati ang sari-saring tinig ng mga taong nakasakay sa kariton ay umaabot sa aking pandinig.”
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.