Shloka 14

Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ

Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra

Devanagari script

अथ पृष्ट: शुकः प्राह मूर्धश्ना समभिवाद्य तम्‌ | स्वागतं देवराज त्वं विज्ञातस्तपसा मया

Transliteration

atha pṛṣṭaḥ śukaḥ prāha mūrdhaśnā samabhivādya tam | svāgataṃ devarāja tvaṃ vijñātastapasā mayā ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Then Śuka, having been questioned, spoke—first bowing to him with due reverence. “Welcome, O king of the gods. Through my austerities I have recognized you.”

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• पृष्टः: having been asked
• पृष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृच्छ्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• शुकः: Śuka
• शुकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्राह: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मूर्धश्ना: Mūrdhaśna (a proper name/epithet)
• मूर्धश्ना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धश्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समभिवाद्य: having respectfully greeted
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + अभि + वद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्वागतम्: welcome
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + आगत (स्वागत)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• देवराज: O king of the gods
• देवराज: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• विज्ञातः: known/recognized
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śuka
• Devarāja (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and spiritual power of tapas (austerity): inner discipline grants clarity and discernment, enabling one to recognize divine presence. It also models proper conduct—greeting and honoring a superior or guest with respectful salutation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s narration, Śuka is questioned and responds. Before speaking, he respectfully salutes the visitor and welcomes him, identifying him as Indra (the king of the gods) through the insight gained from his ascetic practice.