Shloka 20
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
तथैव मृगजातीभिरन्याभिरभिशो भसे । तथा सर्वाधिवासैश्व शोभसे मेरुवद्द्रुम
tathaiva mṛgajātībhiḥ anyābhiḥ abhiśobhase | tathā sarvādhivāsaiś ca śobhase meruvad drumam ||
भीष्म बोले—वृक्षप्रवर! इसी प्रकार भिन्न-भिन्न जाति के मृग और अन्य वन्य प्राणी भी तुम्हारी शोभा बढ़ाते हैं। और सबके निवास-स्थान होने के कारण तुम मेरुपर्वत के समान दीप्तिमान हो।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True excellence is to become a support and refuge for many. Like a great tree that shelters diverse creatures, a virtuous person (or ruler) gains splendor by protecting and accommodating others.
Bhishma is praising a ‘best of trees’ using vivid natural imagery: various wild animals enhance its beauty, and because it serves as a common dwelling-place, it is compared to Mount Meru in grandeur.