Shloka 14
Janamejaya’s Appeal for Pacification and Śaunaka’s Counsel on Humility (जनमेजय-शौनक संवादः)
हर्षेण महता5<विष्टो वाक््यं व्याकुललोचन: । तथेमं शकुनिं दृष्टवा विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा,शास्त्रीय विधिसे सत्कार पा उसने बड़े हर्षमें भरकर डबडबायी हुई आँखोंसे कबूतरकी ओर देखकर कहा--
harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo vākyam vyākula-locanaḥ | tathā imaṃ śakuniṃ dṛṣṭvā vidhi-dṛṣṭena karmaṇā satkāram cakāra, harṣa-bharād dṛṣṭiḥ sajalā babhūva; kapotaṃ prati nirīkṣya uvāca ||
Dijo Bhishma: Poseído de una gran alegría, con los ojos turbados y anegados, miró al ave y habló. Al ver a aquel śakuni (el pájaro) y obrar conforme al rito prescrito por la norma sagrada, le ofreció la debida hospitalidad, con el corazón conmovido por la reverencia al dharma y el deber de honrar al huésped.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma: one should honor a guest (even a vulnerable creature seeking refuge) according to righteous injunctions, with sincerity and compassion rather than mere formality.
A character, moved with great joy and emotion, sees the bird (śakuni/kapota) and, following scriptural propriety, offers it respectful hospitality, then speaks to it—setting up an ethical episode about duty and protection.