FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.6.20

अरयोऽपि हि सन्धेया: सति कार्यार्थगौरवे । अहिमूषिकवद् देवा ह्यर्थस्य पदवीं गतै: ॥ २० ॥
arayo ’pi hi sandheyāḥ
[arayo ’pi hi sandheyaah]
sati kāryārtha-gaurave
[sati kaaryaartha-gaurave]
ahi-mūṣikavad devā
[ahi-mooshikavad devaa]
hy arthasya padavīṁ gataiḥ
[hy arthasya padaveem gataih]
Word-for-word
arayaḥ — enemies api — although hi — indeed sandheyāḥ — eligible for a truce sati — being so kārya-artha-gaurave — in the matter of an important duty ahi — snake mūṣika — mouse vat — like devāḥ — O demigods hi — indeed arthasya — of interest padavīm — position gataiḥ — so being.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
arayo ’pi hi sandheyāḥ
arayaḥ
enemies
sati kāryārtha-gaurave
ahi-mūṣikavad devā
hy arthasya padavīṁ gataiḥ
api
although
hi
indeed
sandheyāḥ
eligible for a truce
sati
being so
kārya-artha-gaurave
in the matter of an important duty
ahi
snake
mūṣika
mouse
vat
like
devāḥ
O demigods
hi
indeed
arthasya
of interest
padavīm
position
gataiḥ
so being.
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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O devas! To attain an important goal one may even have to make a truce with one's enemies. On attaining one’s goal, one should be like the snake and the mouse. The Lord teaches nīti, proper conduct. A snake caught in a box first made truce with a mouse in order to get out, and then ate the mouse. You should also have the intention of killing the demons afterwards.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Sometimes self-interest demands making peace even with enemies — the logic of the snake and the mouse. Pragmatism in service of the higher goal is not hypocrisy; it is wisdom. The aim justifies temporary alliances along the way.
Reflection Questions
  • What higher goal am I willing to make temporary peace for — and what compromises am I refusing out of pride?
  • Where in my life do I behave more rigidly than the demigods themselves did?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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