Shloka 1
Adhyāya 118: Saciva-parīkṣā
Testing and Appointment of Ministers/Servants
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल २४ श्लोक हैं) सप्तदशाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: कुत्तेका शरभकी योनिमें जाकर महर्षिके शापसे पुनः कुत्ता हो जाना भीष्म उवाच व्याप्रश्नेटजमूलस्थस्तृप्त: सुप्तो हतैर्मगै: । नागश्नागात् तमुद्देशं मत्तो मेघ इवोद्धत:
bhīṣma uvāca | vyāghraḥ śveta-jambu-mūla-sthaḥ tṛptaḥ suptaḥ hataiḥ mṛgaiḥ | nāgaḥ āgāt tam uddeśaṃ mattaḥ megha iva uddhataḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: O Hari, ang tigre, matapos kainin ang laman ng mga usang napatay niya at mabusog, ay nakatulog malapit sa ermitanyo, sa paanan ng puting punong jambu. Noon din, isang maitim na elepanteng nagngangalit sa pagkaulol ng rut, matayog na parang namamagang ulap, ang dumating sa lugar na iyon. Itinatakda ng tagpong ito ang aral: ang kayabangan at pagkalasing sa kapangyarihang walang pagpipigil ay kayang manggulo kahit sa payapang kaayusan, at ang biglaang pagtatagpo’y nagiging pagsubok ng pagpipigil at dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prepares an ethical lesson through a vivid encounter: when beings are driven by intoxication of strength (mada), they disrupt peace and provoke conflict. It frames later reflection on restraint, the consequences of arrogance, and the need to act within dharma even amid sudden threats.
A tiger, satisfied after eating deer he has killed, sleeps near a sage’s hermitage at the root of a white jambu tree. Suddenly a dark, rut-maddened elephant, towering like a cloud, arrives at that spot—setting up an imminent confrontation.