Shloka 15
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
उनके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर शुकने मस्तक नवाकर उन्हें प्रणाम किया और कहा --देवराज! आपका स्वागत है। मैंने तपस्थाके बलसे आपको पहचान लिया है! ।।
tato daśaśatākṣeṇa sādhu sādhv iti bhāṣitam | aho vijñānam ity evaṁ manasā pūjitas tataḥ ||
Ainsi interrogé, Śuka inclina la tête en hommage et dit : « Ô roi des dieux, sois le bienvenu. Par la force de mes austérités, je t’ai reconnu. » En l’entendant, Indra, le mille-yeux, s’écria : « Bien, bien ! », et, en son for intérieur, pensa : « Ah, quel discernement admirable ! » Ainsi, sans rien montrer au dehors, il l’honora dans son esprit.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True spiritual discernment (vijñāna), especially when grounded in austerity and inner purity, is worthy of honor even by the highest authorities. The verse highlights that genuine knowledge is recognized and revered, sometimes most authentically through inward respect rather than outward display.
Indra, addressed by his epithet ‘the thousand-eyed one,’ responds to what he has just witnessed/heard by praising it—“Excellent, excellent!” He then honors the person inwardly, admiring the extraordinary discernment, indicating divine recognition of spiritual attainment.