Text 21] The Demigods and Demons Declare a Truce 225
important duty; ahi—snake; misika—mouse; vat—like; devah—O
demigods; hi—indeed; arthasya—of interest; padavim—position;
gataih—so being.
TRANSLATION
O demigods, fulfilling one’s own interests is so important that
one may even have to make a truce with one’s enemies. For the
sake of one’s self-interest, one has to act according to the logic of
the snake and the mouse.
PURPORT
A snake and a mouse were once caught in a basket. Now, since the
mouse is food for the snake, this was a good opportunity for the snake.
However, since both of them were caught in the basket, even if the snake
ate the mouse, the snake would not be able to get out. Therefore, the
snake thought it wise to make a truce with the mouse and ask the mouse
to make a hole in the basket so that both of them could get out. The
snake’s intention was that after the mouse made the hole, the snake
would eat the mouse and escape from the basket through the hole. This is
called the logic of the snake and the mouse.
TEXT 21
THINGY Ia: feraatrafearay |
¢e ~ ~
TQ Tere § eT TTAISAT AIT (REI
amrtotpddane yatnah
kriyatam avilambitam
yasya pitasya vai jantur
mrtyu-grasto ’maro bhavet
amrta-utpddane—in generating nectar; = yatnah—endeavor;
kriyatam—do; avilambitam—without delay; yasya—of which nectar;
pitasya—anyone who drinks; vai—indeed; jantuh—living entity;
mrtyu-grastah—although in imminent danger of death; amarah—im-
mortal; bhavet—can become.
