Shloka 58
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
त्वमश्रितो द्रुमस्याग्रं मूलं त्वहमुपाश्रित: । चिरोषितावुभावावां वृक्षेडस्मिन् विदितं च ते
tvam āśrito drumasyāgraṁ mūlaṁ tv aham upāśritaḥ | ciroṣitāv ubhāv āvāṁ vṛkṣe ’smin viditaṁ ca te ||
Bhishma berkata: “Engkau berlindung di puncak pohon ini, sedangkan aku berlindung di akarnya. Demikianlah, sejak lama kita berdua hidup bergantung pada pohon yang sama ini—hal itu telah engkau ketahui.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights shared dependence: two beings occupy different positions (top and root) yet rely on the same support. Ethically, it points toward recognizing mutual reliance and responding with restraint and gratitude rather than harm toward the common sustainer.
Bhīṣma speaks in a didactic context, presenting a simple scene of two dwellers on the same tree—one above, one at the root—emphasizing that their long-standing arrangement and dependence on the tree is already known to the listener, setting up a moral reflection.