Shloka 5
Vetasa-Nīti: The Reed and the Flood (वेतस-नीति)
अकायश्चाल्पसारश्न वेतस: कूलजश्व व: । अवज्ञया वा नानीतः कि च वा तेन व: कृतम्
akāyaś cālpasāraś ca vetasaḥ kūlajaś ca vaḥ | avajñayā vā nānītaḥ kiṃ ca vā tena vaḥ kṛtam ||
萨伽罗说道：“那vetasa几乎无身，质地轻薄，且就生在你们的河岸之上；然而你们却不把它带来——为何？是因轻蔑而从不携来，还是它曾对你们有恩，所以你们将它放过？”
सागर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not dismiss something merely because it seems weak or insignificant; examine the real reason behind one’s restraint—whether it is negligence/contempt (avajñā) or recognition of a past benefit (kṛta-upakāra). Ethical judgment should be grounded in causes and obligations, not appearances.
The Ocean (Sāgara) questions the addressed waters/streams about a reed that grows on their own bank. Since it is light and easily carried, he asks why they failed to bring it—whether they ignored it out of contempt or refrained because the reed had somehow helped them.