Shloka 7
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
तस्मिन् वक्षे तथाभूते कोटरेषु चिरोषित: । न जहाति शुको वासं तस्य भक्त्या वनस्पते:
tasmin vakṣe tathābhūte koṭareṣu ciroṣitaḥ | na jahāti śuko vāsaṃ tasya bhaktyā vanaspateḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Lorsque l’arbre en fut réduit à cet état, un perroquet qui avait longtemps demeuré dans ses cavités n’abandonna pas son logis. Par dévotion et attachement envers cet arbre, il y resta même tandis qu’il se flétrissait—montrant une loyauté et une gratitude qui ne désertent pas leur soutien aux heures du déclin.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic gratitude and loyalty: one should not abandon a benefactor or refuge merely because it has fallen into hardship. True bhakti/affection is tested when the object of support becomes weak.
Bhishma describes a parrot that has lived for a long time in the hollows of a tree. Even after the tree becomes withered or damaged, the parrot refuses to leave, staying out of devotion and attachment to the tree that sheltered it.