Shloka 32
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
एवमेव मनुष्येन्द्र भक्तिमन्तं समाश्रित: । सर्वार्थसिद्धि लभते शुकं प्राप्य यथा द्रुम:
evam eva manuṣyendra bhaktimantaṁ samāśritaḥ | sarvārthasiddhiṁ labhate śukaṁ prāpya yathā drumaḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “So too, O best of men: one who takes refuge in a truly devoted person attains the fulfillment of all aims—just as a tree, upon gaining the company of the parrot Śuka, came to the complete accomplishment of its desired ends. In the same way, by relying on a person endowed with devotion, a man can bring his aspirations to success.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that association with, and reliance upon, a genuinely devoted person becomes a powerful means for accomplishing one’s legitimate aims; devotion is presented as a transformative support that brings success, illustrated through a simile.
In his instruction to the king, Bhishma uses an illustrative comparison: as a tree is said to gain complete fulfillment by obtaining Śuka’s company, so a person who takes refuge in a devotee gains the fulfillment of desires—emphasizing the ethical value of seeking guidance and support from the devoted.