Shloka 16
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
संरक्षति त्वां पवन: सखित्वेन न संशय: । तस्मात् त्व बहुशाखो5पि पर्णवान् पुष्पवानपि
saṃrakṣati tvāṃ pavanaḥ sakhitvena na saṃśayaḥ | tasmāt tvaṃ bahuśākho 'pi parṇavān puṣpavān api |
भीष्म बोले—इसमें संदेह नहीं कि वायुदेव तुम्हें अपना मित्र मानकर ही तुम्हारी रक्षा करते हैं। इसी कारण तुम अनेक शाखाओं से युक्त, पत्तों और पुष्पों से सुशोभित होकर लहलहा रहे हो।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True friendship and righteous affinity invite protection and support; when a higher power (here, Vāyu) stands as a friend, the result is visible well-being—symbolized by abundant branches, leaves, and flowers.
Bhīṣma addresses a flourishing being (implied as a tree or plant in context) and explains its prosperity as the effect of Vāyu’s guardianship, grounded in a bond of friendship.