Shloka 17
Ālasyadoṣa-nirdeśa (On the Fault of Negligence) — The Camel’s Long-Neck Exemplum
इस तरह उस मूर्ख ऊँटकी मृत्यु हो गयी। देखो, उसके आलस्यके क्रमसे कितना महान् दोष प्राप्त हो गया ।। त्वमप्येवंविधं हित्वा योगेन नियतेन्द्रिय: । वर्तस्व बुद्धिमूलं तु विजयं मनुरब्रवीत्,इसलिये तुम्हें भी ऐसे आलस्यको त्याग करके इन्द्रियोंको वशमें रखते हुए बुद्धिपूर्वक बर्ताव करना उचित है। मनुजीका कथन है कि “विजयका मूल बुद्धि ही है”
evaṁ tasya mūḍhasya uṣṭrasya mṛtyur abhavat. paśyata, tasya ālasyasya krameṇa kīdṛśo mahān doṣaḥ prāptaḥ. tvam api evamvidham ālasyaṁ hitvā yogena niyatendriyaḥ, vartasva buddhimūlaṁ tu vijayaṁ manuḥ abravīt; tasmāt tvayāpi ālasyaṁ tyaktvā indriyāṇi vaśe kṛtvā buddhipūrvakaṁ vartitum ucitam. manu-vacanam: “vijayasya mūlaṁ buddhir eva.”
Kaya nga, namatay ang hangal na kamelyo. Masdan: mula sa kanyang katamaran, unti-unti, dumating ang malaking pagkukulang hanggang sa mauwi sa kapahamakan. Ikaw man, talikuran ang gayong katamaran; sa pamamagitan ng pagsasanay ng yoga, supilin ang mga pandama at kumilos nang may malinaw na isip. Sapagkat sinabi ni Manu: “Ang ugat ng tagumpay ay ang katalinuhan mismo.”
उड्ड उवाच
Educational Q&A
Laziness gradually leads to serious fault and downfall; therefore one should abandon indolence, restrain the senses through disciplined practice, and act with discernment—since intelligence is taught as the foundation of victory.
After recounting the death of a foolish camel caused by its own laziness, the speaker turns the example into direct counsel: the listener should avoid the same failing and live with self-control and intelligent conduct, supported by Manu’s maxim about victory arising from buddhi.