Shloka 20
Janamejaya’s Appeal for Pacification and Śaunaka’s Counsel on Humility (जनमेजय-शौनक संवादः)
इत्युक्त्वा शुष्कपर्णस्तु समुज्ज्वाल्य हुताशनम् । हर्षेण महता5<विष्ट: स पक्षी वाक्यमब्रवीत्,ऐसा कहकर उसने सूखे पत्तोंसे पुन: आग प्रज्वलित की और बड़े हर्षमें भर कर व्याधसे कहा--
ity uktvā śuṣkaparṇas tu samujjvālya hutāśanam | harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭaḥ sa pakṣī vākyam abravīt ||
Having said this, Śuṣkaparṇa rekindled the fire with dry leaves. Filled with great joy, that bird then addressed the hunter—
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical instruction through action: after speaking, the bird rekindles the fire and then continues addressing the hunter, suggesting that dharma is taught not only by words but also by disciplined, purposeful conduct and the responsible use of power.
Śuṣkaparṇa, a bird, has just finished a statement, rekindles the fire using dry leaves, becomes greatly delighted, and then speaks again to the hunter—signaling a continuation of the moral dialogue.