Shloka 15
Gratitude, Discernment, and the Escalation of Power (Śvā–Dvipī–Vyāghra–Nāga–Siṃha–Śarabha Itihāsa)
स मुनिस्तस्य विज्ञाय भावज्ञों भयकारणम् | रुतज्ञ: सर्वसत्त्वानां तमैश्वर्यसमन्वित:,वे सिद्धिके ऐश्वर्यसे सम्पन्न मुनि सबके मनोभावको जाननेवाले और समस्त प्राणियोंकी बोली समझनेवाले थे। उन्होंने उस कुत्तेके भयका कारण जानकर उससे कहा
sa munis tasya vijñāya bhāvajño bhayakāraṇam | rutajñaḥ sarvasattvānāṃ tam aiśvaryasamanvitaḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: That sage, discerning the cause of the dog’s fear—one who knew inner dispositions and could comprehend the sounds and speech of all living beings—endowed with ascetic power, addressed it after recognizing what had frightened it.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral authority is shown through empathetic discernment: the sage first understands the cause of fear and the being’s inner state, then responds appropriately—an ethical model of compassion and wise speech.
A powerful sage, capable of understanding the feelings and speech of all creatures, recognizes why a dog is afraid and then speaks to it, setting up a compassionate intervention.