Shloka 54
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
इदं हि नकुलोलूकं पापबुद्धयाभिसंस्थितम् | न धर्षयति मार्जार तेन मे स्वस्ति साम्प्रतम्
idaṃ hi nakulolūkaṃ pāpabuddhyābhisaṃsthitam | na dharṣayati mārjāra tena me svasti sāmpratam ||
Bhishma nói: “Hãy nhìn đây, hỡi mèo—con cầy mangut và con cú kia đều đã chiếm vị trí với tâm địa tội lỗi. Chúng đang rình rập để ra tay với ta. Chừng nào chúng chưa tấn công ta, thì trong lúc này ta vẫn còn an toàn.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights vigilance and moral discernment: recognizing malicious intent early can preserve safety. Ethical clarity includes identifying ‘pāpa-buddhi’ (harmful motives) and responding with prudent restraint rather than reckless engagement.
Bhishma, speaking within an illustrative animal-episode, addresses a cat and points out that a mongoose and an owl are positioned nearby with hostile intent, waiting to attack. He notes that his safety lasts only as long as they do not initiate the assault.