Shloka 3
Adhyāya 118: Saciva-parīkṣā
Testing and Appointment of Ministers/Servants
त॑ दृष्टवा कुण्जरं मत्तमायान्तं बलगर्वितम् । व्याप्रो हस्तिभयात् त्रस्तस्तमृषिं शरणं ययौ,उस बलाभिमानी मदोनन््मत्त गजराजको आते देख वह बाघ भयभीत हो पुनः ऋषिकी शरणमें गया
taṁ dṛṣṭvā kuñjaraṁ mattam āyāntaṁ balagarvitam | vyāghro hastibhayāt trastas tam ṛṣiṁ śaraṇaṁ yayau ||
Bhīṣma nói: Thấy một con voi đang say cuồng vì kỳ động dục, tiến đến với niềm kiêu hãnh của sức mạnh, con hổ—kinh hãi trước nỗi sợ voi—lại tìm đến vị ẩn sĩ ấy để nương náu.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and aggression (symbolized by the rut-maddened, strength-proud elephant) create fear, but the dharmic response is to seek rightful refuge and protection rather than escalate violence. The verse points to the moral authority of the sage as a shelter superior to brute force.
A tiger sees a powerful, rut-maddened elephant approaching. Overcome by fear, the tiger retreats and goes again to a sage, taking shelter with him for protection.