Shloka 5
Vetasa-Nīti: The Reed and the Flood (वेतस-नीति)
अकायश्चाल्पसारश्न वेतस: कूलजश्व व: । अवज्ञया वा नानीतः कि च वा तेन व: कृतम्
akāyaś cālpasāraś ca vetasaḥ kūlajaś ca vaḥ | avajñayā vā nānītaḥ kiṃ ca vā tena vaḥ kṛtam ||
Sinabi ni Sāgara: “Ang vetasa ay halos walang katawan, manipis at kaunti ang laman, at tumutubo pa sa mismong pampang ninyo. Ngunit hindi ninyo ito nadadala rito—bakit? Dahil ba sa paghamak kaya hindi ninyo kailanman isinama, o may nagawa ba itong kabutihan sa inyo kaya ninyo ito pinalampas?”
सागर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not dismiss something merely because it seems weak or insignificant; examine the real reason behind one’s restraint—whether it is negligence/contempt (avajñā) or recognition of a past benefit (kṛta-upakāra). Ethical judgment should be grounded in causes and obligations, not appearances.
The Ocean (Sāgara) questions the addressed waters/streams about a reed that grows on their own bank. Since it is light and easily carried, he asks why they failed to bring it—whether they ignored it out of contempt or refrained because the reed had somehow helped them.