Shloka 13
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
शुक भो पक्षिणां श्रेष्ठ दाक्षेयी सुप्रजा त्वया । पृच्छे त्वां शुकमेनं त्वं कस्मान्न त्यजसि द्रुमम्
śuka bho pakṣiṇāṃ śreṣṭha dākṣeyī suprajā tvayā | pṛcche tvāṃ śukam enaṃ tvaṃ kasmān na tyajasi drumam ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O Śuka, der Beste unter den Vögeln! Durch dich ist Śukī — die Enkelin Dakṣas — mit vortrefflicher Nachkommenschaft gesegnet worden. Ich frage dich: Warum verlässt du diesen Baum noch immer nicht?“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical question about attachment and appropriate timing: even after fulfilling a purpose (granting Śukī good progeny), why does Śuka remain bound to the same place? It prompts reflection on when one should let go and move on.
Bhīṣma addresses Śuka, praising him as the foremost of birds and noting that Śukī (Dakṣa’s granddaughter) has obtained excellent offspring through him. Bhīṣma then directly questions Śuka’s continued staying on the tree, setting up a discussion about reasons for remaining or departing.