Shloka 15

Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ

Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra

Devanagari script

उनके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर शुकने मस्तक नवाकर उन्हें प्रणाम किया और कहा --देवराज! आपका स्वागत है। मैंने तपस्थाके बलसे आपको पहचान लिया है! ।।

Transliteration

tato daśaśatākṣeṇa sādhu sādhv iti bhāṣitam | aho vijñānam ity evaṁ manasā pūjitas tataḥ ||

Translation

When thus questioned, Śuka bowed his head in reverence and said: “Welcome, O king of the gods. By the power of my austerities I have recognized you.” Hearing this, Indra, the thousand-eyed lord, exclaimed, “Excellent, excellent!” and thought within himself, “Ah, what remarkable discernment!” Thus, without outward display, he honored him in his mind.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

• दशशताक्षेण: by the one having ten-and-hundred eyes (Indra)
• दशशताक्षेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशशताक्ष (इन्द्र-विशेषण)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• साधु: well!/good!
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु
• Form: Avyaya

• साधु: well!/bravo!
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु
• Form: Avyaya

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति
• Form: Avyaya

• भाषितम्: was spoken/uttered
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु) → भाषित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle; Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अहो: ah!/oh!
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो
• Form: Avyaya

• विज्ञानम्: knowledge/discernment
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति
• Form: Avyaya

• एवम्: in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्
• Form: Avyaya

• मनसा: with the mind; mentally
• मनसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• पूजितः: was honored/worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra, Daśaśatākṣa/Sahasrākṣa)
• Śuka (implied by the narrative context in the provided passage)
• Devarāja (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True spiritual discernment (vijñāna), especially when grounded in austerity and inner purity, is worthy of honor even by the highest authorities. The verse highlights that genuine knowledge is recognized and revered, sometimes most authentically through inward respect rather than outward display.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra, addressed by his epithet ‘the thousand-eyed one,’ responds to what he has just witnessed/heard by praising it—“Excellent, excellent!” He then honors the person inwardly, admiring the extraordinary discernment, indicating divine recognition of spiritual attainment.