Shloka 28
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
वरं वृणीष्वेति तदा स च वव्रे वरं शुक: । आनुृशंस्यपरो नित्यं तस्य वृक्षस्य सम्भवम्,'शुक! तुम मुझसे कोई वर माँगो।” तब दयापरायण शुकने यह वर माँगा कि “यह वृक्ष पहलेकी ही भाँति हरा-भरा हो जाय”
varaṁ vṛṇīṣveti tadā sa ca vavre varaṁ śukaḥ | ānṛśaṁsyaparo nityaṁ tasya vṛkṣasya sambhavam ||
Bhishma said: Then he said, “Choose a boon.” And Śuka—ever devoted to compassion—chose this boon: that the tree should be restored to its former state, becoming green and flourishing again.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ānṛśaṁsya (compassion/non-cruelty): when offered a boon, the virtuous person seeks restoration and welfare rather than personal gain, showing that ethical excellence expresses itself as kindness toward living beings and the world.
A boon is offered (“Choose a boon”), and Śuka—described as consistently compassionate—asks that the tree be returned to its earlier flourishing condition, i.e., restored to green, healthy life.