Shloka 11
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: On the Superiority of Giving
Maitreya–Vyāsa Exemplum
कीड़ेने कहा--महामते! यह जो बहुत बड़ी बैलगाड़ी आ रही है, इसीकी घर्घराहट सुनकर मुझे भय हो गया है; क्योंकि उसकी यह आवाज बड़ी भयंकर है ।।
kīṭa uvāca—mahāmate! iyaṃ yā mahāśakaṭī samāyāti, tasyā ghoṣaṃ śrutvā me bhayaṃ jātaṃ; bhīṣaṇo hy eṣā ninādaḥ. śrūyate na ca māṃ hanyād iti hāsmād apakrame. śvasatāṃ ca śṛṇomy enaṃ goputrāṇāṃ pratodyatām.
小虫说道：“大智者啊！一辆巨大的牛车正朝这边而来。听到它的轰隆声，我便被恐惧攫住，因为那声音实在骇人。它越近，我越不由得疑惧：‘但愿它不要撞来，将我碾死！’——因此我急忙逃离它的行道。我听见牛在沉重载荷下喘息，被鞭与刺棒驱赶；它们的声响近在咫尺，车上乘坐之人的种种言语呼喊也传入我耳。”
कीट उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the smallest beings experience fear and seek safety; the passage invites ethical sensitivity toward vulnerable life and highlights how ordinary human activity can unintentionally threaten others, urging mindful, non-harmful conduct.
An insect hears the terrifying rumble of an approaching ox-cart, worries it may be crushed, and quickly moves away while describing the panting oxen being driven by a goad and the voices of the men riding on the cart.