Shloka 26
नारायणीयमाख्यानम् (Nārāyaṇīyam Ākhyānam) — Nārada’s Return and Hymnic Consolidation
गिरिगह्नरपृषछ्ेषु व्याहरन्ति शुकं प्रति । तभीसे आजतक पर्वतोंके शिखरपर अथवा गुफाओंके आस-पास जब-जब आवाज दी जाती है, तब-तब वहाँके चराचर निवासी प्रतिध्वनिके रूपमें उसका उत्तर देते हैं, जैसा कि उन्होंने शुकदेवजीके लिये किया था ।। अन्तर्हितः प्रभावं॑ तु दर्शयित्वा शुकस्तदा
girigahvareṣu pṛṣṭheṣu vyāharanti śukaṃ prati | tathā hi sa ājātakaṃ parvataśikhareṣu athavā guhāsu samīpeṣu yadā yadā āvāhyaṃte tadā tadā tatra carācaranivāsinaḥ pratidhvanirūpeṇa tasya uttaraṃ dadati, yathā te śukadevāya cakruḥ || antarhitaḥ prabhāvaṃ tu darśayitvā śukas tadā
Bhīṣma said: In mountain-caves and on the ridges, whenever a call is uttered, the beings that dwell there—moving and unmoving—return it as an echo, just as they once answered for Śuka. Then Śuka, having revealed his extraordinary power, became invisible at that time.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the image of an echo to suggest that the world reflects what is projected into it, while also highlighting the yogic or spiritual mastery of Śuka—one who can reveal power yet remain unattached, even to visibility and recognition.
Bhīṣma recalls a marvel associated with Śuka: in mountains and caves, calls are answered back as echoes, as though nature itself responded to him. After displaying his potency, Śuka then becomes invisible (antarhita), indicating yogic accomplishment.