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 ||
Bhishma dit : Saisi d’une grande joie, les yeux vacillants et pleins de larmes, il regarda l’oiseau et parla. Ayant vu ce śakuni (l’oiseau) et agi selon l’ordonnance des règles sacrées, il lui rendit l’hospitalité due, le cœur ému par le respect du dharma et le devoir d’honorer l’hôte.
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.