Shloka 29
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
विदित्वा च दृढां भक्ति तां शुके शीलसम्पदम् | प्रीत: क्षिप्रमथो वृक्षममृतेनावसिक्तवान्
viditvā ca dṛḍhāṃ bhaktiṃ tāṃ śuke śīla-sampadam | prītaḥ kṣipram atho vṛkṣam amṛtenāvasiktavān |
शुक की सुदृढ़ भक्ति और शील-सम्पदा को जानकर इन्द्र और भी प्रसन्न हुए। उन्होंने तुरंत उस वृक्ष को अमृत से सींच दिया।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links spiritual devotion (bhakti) with ethical character (śīla): steadfast devotion that is supported by good conduct becomes especially worthy, and such integrity naturally attracts benevolent support—symbolized here by Indra’s life-giving nectar.
Bhishma narrates that Indra, seeing Shuka’s firm devotion and exemplary conduct, becomes delighted and immediately sprinkles a tree with amrita, indicating a divine response that revitalizes and blesses.