Shloka 50
Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)
आशीविषं घोरतरं पादेन स्पृशतीह कः । सिंहं केसरिणं कश्च दंष्टायां स्पृश्य तिष्तति,“कौन अत्यन्त भयंकर विषधर सर्पको पैरसे कुचल रहा है? तथा कौन केसरी सिंहकी दाढ़ोंमें हाथ डालकर निश्चिन्त खड़ा है?”
āśīviṣaṃ ghorataraṃ pādena spṛśatīha kaḥ | siṃhaṃ kesariṇaṃ kaścid daṃṣṭāyāṃ spṛśya tiṣṭhati ||
Sino rito ang mangangahas na tapakan ang isang lubhang nakapangingilabot na makamandag na ahas? At sino ang makatatayong payapa matapos ipasok ang kamay sa mga panga ng isang leon na may makapal na kiling? (Ginamit ni Rāma ang mga larawang ito upang ipakita na kamangmangan ang mang-udyok ng napakalaking panganib; ang marunong ay hindi nag-aanyaya ng kapahamakan sa padalus-dalos na pagdikit sa tiyak na makasasakit.)
(श्रीरम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches practical wisdom aligned with dharma: do not invite predictable harm through rash, arrogant, or careless actions. Just as no sensible person steps on a deadly snake or puts a hand into a lion’s jaws, one should avoid provoking dangers that are clearly beyond safe control.
Śrī Rāma speaks in the form of rhetorical questions, using vivid natural images (a venomous serpent and a lion) to warn against reckless behavior. The point is to dissuade someone from a course of action that is as perilous as touching lethal creatures.