Shloka 100
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
एवमुक्तस्तु मार्जारो मूषिकेणात्मनो हितम् । वचन वाक्यतत्त्वज्ञो जीवितार्थी महामति:
evam uktas tu mārjāro mūṣikeṇātmano hitam | vacana-vākya-tattvajño jīvitārthī mahāmatiḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：鼠如此言毕，猫——善于洞察言辞句读之真意，一心保全自身性命，且具大智——便开口陈说，自称所言皆为自身之利。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights discernment in communication: a clever agent understands the hidden purport of speech (vacana-vākya-tattva) and speaks strategically for self-preservation. Ethically, it warns that eloquence and apparent reasonableness may serve self-interest, so one should judge intent, not merely words.
In Bhishma’s narration, after the mouse speaks to the cat, the cat—portrayed as highly intelligent and attentive to the meaning behind words—responds by presenting what he frames as his own ‘benefit,’ setting up the next move in their exchange.