Shloka 8
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
निष्प्रचारो निराहारो ग्लान: शिथिलवागपि । कृतज्ञः: सह वृक्षेण धर्मात्मा सो5प्यशुष्यत
niṣpracāro nirāhāro glānaḥ śithilavāk api | kṛtajñaḥ saha vṛkṣeṇa dharmātmā so 'py aśuṣyat ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: El loro justo, por gratitud, dejó de moverse y renunció a tomar alimento. Débil y abatido, su voz también se volvió tenue. Así, permaneciendo junto a aquel árbol, él mismo empezó a marchitarse con él—una imagen ética de lealtad y reconocimiento aun en la adversidad.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṛtajñatā (gratitude) as a dharmic virtue: one should remember and honor benefactors, remaining loyal even when circumstances turn painful, rather than abandoning them for self-interest.
A righteous parrot stays with a tree to which he is grateful. As the tree dries up, the parrot stops roaming, stops eating, becomes too weak to speak, and withers along with the tree—showing steadfast attachment born of gratitude.