Shloka 21
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
नकुलो मूषिकानत्ति बिडालो नकुलं तथा | बिडालमत्ति श्वा राजन् श्वानं व्यालमृगस्तथा,राजन! नेवला चूहेको खा जाता है और नेवलेको बिलाव। बिलावको कुत्ता और कुत्तेको चीता चबा जाता है
nakulo mūṣikān atti biḍālo nakulaṃ tathā | biḍālam atti śvā rājan śvānaṃ vyāla-mṛgas tathā ||
Wika ni Arjuna: “O Hari, ang monggós ay kumakain ng daga; gayon din, kinakain ng pusa ang monggós. Kinakain ng aso ang pusa, at sa gayon ding paraan, dinadaig ng mabangis na hayop (mandaragit) ang aso. Kaya sa daigdig, ang isang nilalang ay nagiging pagkain ng iba—ipinapakita ang walang humpay na tanikala ng paghahari at kahinaan, at nagbababala laban sa pagmamataas sa kapangyarihan.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates a natural and social reality: dominance is temporary, and every power has a stronger counter-power. Ethically, it cautions against arrogance and urges humility and vigilance, since worldly security is unstable.
Arjuna addresses a king and uses a vivid animal sequence—mouse, mongoose, cat, dog, and a fierce predator—to make a point through analogy: in the world, beings prey upon one another, and positions of strength can quickly reverse.