“Attaching to the tiger’s tail” establishes the theme and identifies the two players. The omitted grammatical subject is the parasite, the focal player. In the Original Hexagram, Dui attaches to Qian through Li. In the Hidden Hexagram, Zhen in lines three, four, and five overlaps lower Gen at line three. Zhen represents the focal player, its feet, and the act of stepping; Gen represents the tail. The creature places its feet on the tail and attaches to its host.

This phrase resolves a potential ambiguity in hexagram imagery. The Xun trigram formed by lines three, four, and five carries two opposing meanings. On one hand, Xun means material gains flowing from Qian to the focal player — the benefits of parasitic attachment. On the other hand, Xun can be read as inverted Dui — a mouth turned downward to devour — which would suggest Qian consuming Dui, the tiger biting the parasite. Both readings are supported by the same imagery, and an inexperienced interpreter might reach the wrong conclusion. The opening statement resolves the ambiguity by stating that, in the overall hexagram scenario, the tiger does not bite. Here, Xun means material benefits flowing from Qian, rather than injury inflicted by Qian.

The Kun–Gen image in the Hidden Hexagram explains why the tiger does not bite. Upper Kun represents compliance, disappearance, and inaction; lower Gen represents the other player, the tail, and obstacles. The other player remains compliant and inactive, creating no obstacles and taking no hostile action against the focal player. Qian takes no action against the creature attached to it. Qian does not bite because, at this moment, it has not detected the parasite's activity. The phrase does not mean the tiger is incapable of biting; it means the tiger is not biting yet.

This phrase addresses another possible misreading. If the tiger does not bite and the parasite feeds successfully, one might conclude that the activity costs it nothing. The statement makes clear that the parasitic activity is not entirely without cost.

Why must a price be paid? The answer lies in the Original Hexagram. Qian and Dui connect through Li in lines two, three, and four. Lower Dui has two meanings: it can represent the damage the focal player causes to the other player, or it can represent a contribution made by the focal player. Accordingly, Li can either represent the bond between two parities or clear observation. These two meanings produce different readings. If Dui means damage, Qian notices the harm through Li, and the friendship deteriorates. If Dui means giving, Qian develops goodwill and the bond is established. Li–Dui may then indicate impaired oversight, allowing parasitic activity to go unnoticed. Considering both possibilities, the best strategy for the focal player is therefore to give first, gain trust, and only draw benefit afterward. To take, one must first give. The first line develops the same logic: entering the other player’s domain requires a contribution that disguises the focal player’s intention.