Shloka 14
Adhyāya 118: Saciva-parīkṣā
Testing and Appointment of Ministers/Servants
(तं दृष्टवा शरभं यान्तं सिंह: परभयातुर: । ऋषिं शरणमापेदे वेपमान: कृताञउ्जलि: ।।
taṃ dṛṣṭvā śarabhaṃ yāntaṃ siṃhaḥ parabhayāturaḥ | ṛṣiṃ śaraṇamāpede vepamānaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ || tato muniḥ śarabhaṃ cakre balotkaṭam arindama | tataḥ sa śarabho vanyo muneḥ śarabham agrataḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：见舍罗婆逼近，那狮子因畏惧更强之敌而心神战栗，合掌颤抖，前来投奔仙人求庇护。于是，噢降敌者啊，仙人以自身威力化作一头雄伟的舍罗婆。那野舍罗婆便站在仙人所化舍罗婆之前。此事寓含道德对照：当遭遇更胜一筹的力量时，骄者亦会求护；而正义的护持者并不以残酷相报，只以所需之力制止伤害、护持达摩。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When faced with overwhelming danger, seeking refuge in a righteous protector is appropriate; true strength is shown when power is used to protect and restrain harm in accordance with dharma, not to indulge violence.
A Śarabha advances toward a lion. Terrified, the lion approaches a sage and seeks refuge with folded hands. The sage then assumes a powerful Śarabha form, positioning himself before the wild Śarabha—setting up a confrontation where protective power intervenes.