Shloka 1
अपन क्रात बा अं षट्चत्वारिशर्दाधेकशततमो< ध्याय: कबूतरके द्वारा अतिथि-सत्कार और अपने शरीरका बहेलियेके लिये परित्याग भीष्म उवाच स पत्न्या वचन श्रुत्वा धर्मयुक्तिसमन्वितम् । हर्षेण महता युक्तो वाक््यं व्याकुललोचन:,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! पत्नीकी वह धर्मके अनुकूल और युक्तियुक्त बात सुनकर कबूतरको बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई। उसके नेत्रोंमें आनन्दके आँसू छलक आये
bhīṣma uvāca | sa patnyā vacanaṁ śrutvā dharmayuktisamanvitam | harṣeṇa mahatā yukto vākyaṁ vyākulalocanaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “O King, hearing his wife’s words—aligned with dharma and supported by sound reasoning—the pigeon was filled with great joy; his eyes grew moist and unsteady as he responded, overcome with emotion.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely rule-following but reasoned moral commitment: when one recognizes a righteous course—here, honoring the guest—one should embrace it wholeheartedly, even at personal cost.
In Bhishma’s narration, the pigeon hears his wife’s dharma-grounded counsel about proper conduct toward a guest. Moved by her reasoning, he becomes joyful and emotionally overwhelmed, preparing to respond in a way consistent with hospitality and sacrifice.