Shloka 16
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
तमेवं शुभकर्माणं शुकं परमधार्मिकम् | विजानन्नपि तां प्रीतिं पप्रच्छ बलसूदन:
tam evaṁ śubhakarmāṇaṁ śukaṁ paramadhārmikam | vijānann api tāṁ prītiṁ papraccha balasūdanaḥ ||
Bhishma said: Though he already knew that deep affection, Indra—the slayer of Bala—still questioned Shuka, the supremely righteous parrot who performed auspicious deeds, asking how great the bird’s love for the tree truly was.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one believes the truth is already known, dharmic understanding is refined through respectful questioning. The verse frames love (prīti) and righteousness (dharma) as qualities worth examining carefully, not merely assuming.
Bhishma narrates that Indra, called Balasudana, approaches the virtuous parrot Shuka. Though Indra already knows about Shuka’s affection toward the tree, he still asks Shuka about it—setting up a moral discussion about devotion, gratitude, and steadfastness.