Shloka 10
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
ततश्चिन्तामुपगत: शक्र: कथमयं द्विज: । तिर्यग्योनावसम्भाव्यमानृशंस्थमवस्थित:,इन्द्र यह सोचने लगे कि यह पक्षी कैसे ऐसी अलौकिक दयाको अपनाये बैठा है, जो पक्षीकी योनिमें प्रायः असम्भव है
tataś cintām upagataḥ śakraḥ katham ayaṃ dvijaḥ | tiryagyonāv asambhāvyam ānṛśaṃsya-stham avasthitaḥ ||
Lalu Śakra (Indra) tenggelam dalam renungan: “Bagaimana mungkin ‘yang dua kali lahir’ ini—kini berada dalam kelahiran hewan—teguh bersemayam dalam welas asih, suatu sifat yang dianggap nyaris mustahil pada jenis kelahiran demikian?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Compassion (ānṛśaṃsya) is upheld as a high dharmic virtue that can shine even under limiting conditions such as an animal birth; true ethical excellence is measured by conduct, not merely by status or circumstance.
Bhīṣma narrates that Indra (Śakra) becomes thoughtful, astonished that a being described as a dvija—though currently in an animal species—remains firmly established in extraordinary compassion, something considered rare in such a birth.