Shloka 16
Adhyāya 325: Nārada in Śvetadvīpa—Stotra to the Nirguṇa Mahātman
पितुर्वचनमाज्ञाय तमेवार्थ विचिन्तयन् । अध्यानं सो5तिचक्राम खेचर: खे चरज्निव
pitur vacanam ājñāya tam evārthaṁ vicintayan | adhyānaṁ so ’ticakrāma khecaraḥ khe carann iva ||
Bhīṣma sprach: Nachdem er den Befehl seines Vaters verstanden und angenommen hatte, sann er nur über eben diesen Zweck nach. Den ganzen Weg vollendete er zu Fuß und zog frei und standhaft über die Erde dahin, wie ein Himmelsvogel durch den Himmel streicht—ein Zeichen disziplinierter Folgsamkeit und unerschütterlicher Sammlung auf das, was zu erkennen und zu tun ist.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as disciplined obedience to a rightful parental command, coupled with single-pointed reflection on one’s purpose. Ethical steadiness is shown not by display, but by sustained, humble effort (walking the whole way) and unwavering focus.
A person, having understood his father’s instruction, sets out and completes the journey on foot while continually contemplating the intended objective. His movement over the earth is compared to a bird’s effortless roaming in the sky, emphasizing freedom of movement joined with inner discipline.