Shloka 20
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
अथ सम्पूज्य तद् वाक्यं मृगेन्द्रस्य महात्मन: । गोमायु: संश्रितं वाक्यं बभाषे किंचिदानत:,महामनस्वी मृगराजके उस कथनकी भूरि-भूरि प्रशंसा करके सियारने कुछ नतमस्तक होकर विनययुक्त वाणीमें कहा
atha sampūjya tad vākyaṁ mṛgendrasya mahātmanaḥ | gomāyuḥ saṁśritaṁ vākyaṁ babhāṣe kiñcid ānataḥ ||
Bấy giờ, sau khi kính cẩn tán dương lời ấy của bậc đại tâm—chúa tể muôn thú (sư tử), con chó rừng cúi nhẹ đầu và thưa bằng giọng khiêm cung, cung kính.
शार्टूल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical value of humility and reverence toward noble, wise speech: proper conduct begins with honoring good counsel, and even a lesser or cunning character must adopt respectful restraint before true greatness.
After the lion (mṛgendra) speaks, the jackal (gomāyu) praises the lion’s words and, with a slight bow, begins to respond in a humble manner—setting up a didactic exchange framed as an animal dialogue.