Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage
तस्य पक्षाग्रविक्षेपै: क्लमं व्यपनयत् खगः । पूजां चाप्यकरोद् धीमान् भोजनं चाप्यकल्पयत्,उस बुद्धिमान पक्षीने अपने पंखोंके अग्रभागका संचालन करके उसे हवा की और उसकी सारी थकावट दूर कर दी; फिर उसका पूजन किया तथा उसके लिये भोजनकी व्यवस्था की
tasya pakṣāgravikṣepaiḥ klamaṁ vyapanayat khagaḥ | pūjāṁ cāpyakarod dhīmān bhojanaṁ cāpyakalpayat ||
Bhishma said: By fanning him with the tips of his wings, the bird dispelled his weariness with a cooling breeze. Then that wise creature honored him with due reverence and also arranged food for him.
भीष्म उवाच
Even a non-human being exemplifies dharma through compassionate service: relieving another’s fatigue, offering respectful reception (pūjā), and providing food. The verse highlights hospitality and care for the vulnerable as practical, lived ethics.
A wise bird fans someone with its wing-tips to remove his exhaustion, then honors him and arranges a meal—depicting an act of attentive caregiving and guest-like reception within Bhishma’s discourse.