Shloka 1
भ्च्प्स्ज्ल््स््ि ह्य #5््ाम्प्र् अष्टाविशर्त्याधिकद्विशततमो< ध्याय: शार्कुकोपाख्यान--मन्दपाल मुनिके द्वारा जरिता- शार्डिकासे पुत्रोंकी उत्पत्ति और उन्हें बचानेके लिये मुनिका अग्निदेवकी स्तुति करना जनमेजय उवाच किमर्थ शार्कुकानग्निर्न ददाह तथागते । तस्मिन् वने दहामाने ब्रद्मन्नेतत् प्रचक्ष्य मे
Janamejaya uvāca: kimarthaṁ śārkukān agnir na dadāha tathāgate? tasmin vane dahamāne brahman etat pracakṣya me.
Janamejaya berkata: “Wahai Brahmana, mengapa Agni tidak membakar burung-burung Śārkuka ketika ia datang ke sana? Saat hutan itu dilalap api, jelaskanlah hal ini kepadaku.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dhārmic inquiry: when an apparent exception occurs (fire that burns a forest yet spares certain beings), one should seek the underlying cause—often linked to merit, protection, or divine purpose—rather than assume randomness.
King Janamejaya asks the sage to explain why Agni, though burning the forest, did not burn the Śārkuka birds. This question sets up the explanation of the birds’ protection and the circumstances that led to their being spared.