Shloka 16
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
संरक्षति त्वां पवन: सखित्वेन न संशय: । तस्मात् त्व बहुशाखो5पि पर्णवान् पुष्पवानपि
saṃrakṣati tvāṃ pavanaḥ sakhitvena na saṃśayaḥ | tasmāt tvaṃ bahuśākho 'pi parṇavān puṣpavān api |
ভীষ্ম বললেন—এতে কোনো সন্দেহ নেই, বায়ুদেব তোমাকে বন্ধু জেনে রক্ষা করেন। তাই তুমি বহু শাখায় সমৃদ্ধ, পত্র-পুষ্পে সুশোভিত হয়ে প্রস্ফুটিত হয়ে দাঁড়িয়ে আছ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True friendship and righteous affinity invite protection and support; when a higher power (here, Vāyu) stands as a friend, the result is visible well-being—symbolized by abundant branches, leaves, and flowers.
Bhīṣma addresses a flourishing being (implied as a tree or plant in context) and explains its prosperity as the effect of Vāyu’s guardianship, grounded in a bond of friendship.