Shloka 14
पपात भूमिं राजेन्द्र शुकस्यार्थे महात्मन: । कुरुनन्दन! राजेन्द्र! आकाशसे महात्मा शुकदेवके लिये दण्ड और काला मृगचर्म--ये दोनों वस्तुएँ पृथ्वीपर गिरी ।।
pāpāta bhūmiṁ rājendra śukasya arthe mahātmanaḥ | kurunandana rājendra ākāśe sa mahātmā śukadevake liye daṇḍaḥ kṛṣṇamṛgacarma ca—ete ubhe vastūnī pṛthivyāṁ papātuḥ ||
(jegīyante sma gandharvā nanṛtuś cāpsarogaṇāḥ | hāhā hūhūś ca gandharvā viśvāvasu-tumburu-nāradaiḥ saha tuṣṭuvuḥ śukasambhavam ||)
Bhīṣma said: “O king, for the sake of the great-souled Śuka, two objects—the ascetic’s staff and a black antelope-skin—fell down to the earth, as if bestowed from the sky. Then the Gandharvas began to sing and the hosts of Apsarases danced; celestial drums resounded loudly, and Gandharvas such as Viśvāvasu, Tumburu, Nārada, Hāhā, and Hūhū praised and celebrated the auspicious advent of Śuka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that genuine spiritual vocation (tapas and renunciation) is inherently auspicious and is ‘recognized’ by the moral order of the universe. The falling of the staff and antelope-skin symbolizes readiness for disciplined ascetic life, implying that dharma supports those oriented toward self-control and truth.
At Śuka’s advent, ascetic emblems (a staff and black antelope-skin) are said to fall to earth as if granted from the sky. Gandharvas sing, Apsarases dance, celestial drums sound, and renowned Gandharvas (Viśvāvasu, Tumburu, Nārada, Hāhā, Hūhū) praise Śuka’s birth.