Shloka 873

Kubera’s Fivefold Nīti and Protection of the Pāṇḍavas (वैश्रवणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

परस्परमुदी क्षन्ते बहवो जीवजीवका: । 'पार्थ! वृक्षोंकी ऊँची शिखाओंपर बैठे हुए लाल, गुलाबी और पीले रंगके चकोर पक्षी एक-दूसरेकी ओर देख रहे हैं

Transliteration

parasparam udīkṣante bahavo jīva-jīvakāḥ | pārtha! vṛkṣāṇāṃ ūrdhva-śikhāsu niṣaṇṇāḥ lohita-pāṭala-pīta-varṇāś cakorāḥ parasparam īkṣante |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Many living creatures look at one another. O Pārtha, perched upon the lofty treetops, red, rose-hued, and yellow cakorā birds are gazing at each other.”

Word by Word

• परस्परम्: mutually, to one another
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर
• Form: true

• उदीक्षन्ते: they look (up/at), they gaze
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईक्ष् (प्रेक्षणे) + उद्
• Form: Lat (present indicative), 3rd, plural, Atmanepada

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• जीवजीवकाः: chakora birds (a kind of bird)
• जीवजीवकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवजीवक
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• trees (vṛkṣa)
• cakora birds (cakora)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights mindful observation and the mutuality of living beings in the forest, suggesting an ethical mood of restraint and attentiveness—seeing life as interconnected rather than as mere background to human struggle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a forest tableau to Pārtha (Arjuna): many creatures are watching one another, and cakora birds of varied colors sit on high treetops, gazing at each other—setting a contemplative atmosphere within the Vana Parva setting.